People are prone to happiness in middle age, and obesity is the "sore spot" of many elderly people. Indeed, obesity is a risk factor for many chronic diseases, and many elderly people also recognize the saying that "it is difficult to buy old age to be thin".
But in fact, for the elderly, too fat or too thin is not good, the appropriate weight is the most important.
Why is it bad to be too fat or too thin?
If the elderly are overweight, the pressure on the knee increases, and the wear and tear on the knee is higher than that of ordinary people by physical activities such as going up and down stairs, running and jumping.
Second, obesity can easily lead to an increased risk of chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes, bringing a heavier burden to the body, more fat wrapping around internal organs, higher blood fat content, and greater consumption of cardiovascular and internal organs.
There is also a risk that the elderly are too thin.
First, being too thin will lead to reduced resistance and easy to contract diseases such as seasonal influenza.
Second, too thin often also exists sarcopenia, muscle content is greatly reduced, in the daily up, squat, up and down and other processes are easy to fall and fracture due to insufficient muscle content.
Third, the risk of osteoporosis in the elderly who are too thin is also often higher, which further aggravates the loss of bone mass, making falls and fractures more likely to occur in the elderly.
Being too fat or too thin increases the risk of total death in older adults, and the most important thing is to maintain a moderate range of weight.
How do older people maintain an appropriate weight?
The weight of the elderly should not be too low, and the BMI is more suitable at 20.0~26.9 kg/m2. Suitable weight, not only concerned with the weight itself, but also in combination with the specific height of the individual. BMI is the body mass index, which is divided by weight (kg) divided by height (m) squared, i.e.:
BMI = [Weight (kg)] / [Height (m) × Height (m)]
The body mass index thus calculated can better reflect the body fat content in the general population.
For example, a 60-year-old man with a height of 1.7 meters and a weight of 60 kilograms, then his body mass index (BMI) is 60/(1.7×1.7)=20.8 kg/m2, and his BMI is between 20.0~26.9 kg/m2, then his weight can be considered a suitable weight.
If you want to lose weight, active outdoor sports are essential, and if you want to gain weight, proper nutrition is also the key.
However, whether it is too fat or too thin, the elderly should not take extreme measures to make the weight change significantly in a short period of time, nor do they require the obese elderly to quickly reduce their weight, but should maintain a relatively stable range.
A short period of large changes in weight often brings great damage to the body, and we should not blindly pursue speed, but should change gradually in a planned manner.
In addition, it is necessary to pay attention to the weight changes of the elderly, it is recommended to always have a weight scale at home, measure it regularly, and take the initiative to go to nutrition and medical consultation if there is a significant weight loss without taking active measures to lose weight. Maintaining a suitable weight will make old age freer and more comfortable.
Bibliography:
Chinese Nutrition Society,Dietary Guidelines for Chinese Residents 2022[M].Beijing:People's Medical Publishing House,2022.
Author | Dr. Ma Health Group Master Shen Guiyuan
Edit the | Dr. Ma Health Group Feng Qi
Image | Selfie Photography Network and Internet
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Authorization Statement | The original is not easy, without authorization, please do not reprint
Reprinted in cooperation | [email protected]
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