Statement: The content of this article is written by quoting authoritative medical information combined with personal opinions, the source of the literature and screenshots have been marked in the text, in order to facilitate everyone's reading and understanding, some of the storylines have fictional components, which are intended to popularize scientific health knowledge, please be aware.
Aunt Wang, 62, lives in a senior community, and just a few months ago, friends in the community began noticing the changes in her.
She used to be round, but suddenly she is a lot slimmer, and her clothes look neat. Everyone who saw her couldn't help but ask her, "Sister Wang, why have you lost so much weight?" Are there any secret recipes for weight loss? ”
In the face of these compliments, Aunt Wang showed a proud smile on her face, waved her hand and said, "Oh, what's the secret recipe?" It's just that if you eat less and walk more, your weight will naturally come down. ”
This change made Aunt Wang very proud, after all, she has passed the retirement age, and the weight loss makes her seem to return to the ease and confidence of her youth. She still insists on going to the park early every day to walk, chatting with the neighbors, playing tai chi, and living a leisurely life.
However, she didn't know that the danger lurking behind this "slimming surprise" had just begun.
Unexpected loss of appetite
At first, Aunt Wang didn't care about the change in the amount of food she ate.
She thinks that when she loses weight, her appetite will naturally become smaller, so every time she cooks, she deliberately cooks less. Gradually, she found that not only did she eat less, but she always felt bloated after eating, and occasionally had a slight acid reflux.
At first, she thought she was eating too fast, so she deliberately slowed down the pace of eating, but the problem did not improve, and the discomfort after the meal still followed.
Once, she had dinner with a few old friends.
The dinner table was full of fragrant dishes, and everyone chatted happily, but Aunt Wang felt full after eating a little. After barely eating a few bites, she felt that her stomach was swollen so much that she was not interested, so she had to sit quietly and watch everyone enjoy the food.
Seeing this, her friends were concerned about her: "Why do you eat so little?" Uncomfortable? ”
Aunt Wang smiled and waved her hand, and said, "It's okay, my appetite has been a little small recently." She didn't take it seriously herself, thinking that maybe she was getting older, and her appetite would naturally be smaller.
Decreased physical strength and impaired mobility
A few weeks later, Aunt Wang suddenly noticed that she was starting to feel a little overwhelmed when she walked. It used to be an easy walk to the park every morning, but lately, she often feels weak in her legs and feet halfway through and has to stop for a break.
On this day, she got up as usual and prepared to go to the park, but not long after she walked out of the house, she felt her legs go limp, and it seemed that she was about to collapse on the ground after a few more steps. She had to slowly find a bench and sit down, pressing her knees, and her face revealed a trace of doubt:
"What's going on? How could I be so tired? ”
After sitting for a while, Aunt Wang stood up and wanted to continue walking, but as soon as her legs were exerted, she almost fell. She hurriedly held on to the tree next to her, feeling a little flustered. This situation repeated several times, and Aunt Wang couldn't help but start to wonder if she was really old, or if there was something wrong with her body.
There were some worries in her heart, but she still had no plans to go to the hospital for a check-up, and she always felt that it was just temporary fatigue.
The care of the neighborhood in the community
Aunt Wang's neighbor, Aunt Li, is a good friend of hers, and she can't help but worry when she sees that Aunt Wang has recently become less energetic and moves much slower than usual.
One day, Aunt Li knocked on the door of Aunt Wang's house, carrying some self-made tonic soup in her hand, walked in with a smile, and said, "Sister Wang, I see that you have a bad appetite recently, and you are not so energetic when you walk, so I cooked some chicken soup to make you up." ”
Aunt Wang took the tonic soup and nodded gratefully, but there was still a hint of powerlessness on her face.
When the two sat down to chat, Aunt Li mentioned that Aunt Wang had lost a lot of weight recently, and said, "You look much slimmer now, but you can't be just thin, you have to be energetic!" ”
Although Aunt Wang felt the concern of her friends, she still felt that there should be no major problem with her physical condition, but the weather has been cold recently, and her digestive function may be somewhat affected.
Aunt Li said again: "You can't go on like this, you still have to go to the hospital to have a look, don't drag it out." ”
Hearing these concerned suggestions, Aunt Wang finally decided to go to the hospital for a comprehensive examination.
Examination results from the hospital
Accompanied by her family, Aunt Wang came to the hospital, registered, queued, and had a physical examination, and everything went smoothly.
After asking her about her symptoms in detail, the doctor recommended that she have a gastrointestinal endoscopy and blood tests. After a series of tests, the doctor told her that her gastrointestinal function had deteriorated significantly, which may have been caused by a long-term unbalanced diet.
What surprised Aunt Wang even more was that the doctor also reminded her to be vigilant against sarcopenia.
The doctor said solemnly: "Your current situation is not only a gastrointestinal problem, the loss of muscle mass has begun to affect your daily life, and the risk of sarcopenia is high. If you don't pay attention to it, your ability to move will become worse and worse in the future, and even increase the risk of falling. ”
Aunt Wang was a little stunned when she heard this, it turned out that losing weight did not mean that she was healthy, but that there were so many hidden problems.
Doctor's advice with Aunt Wang's change
Based on the results of Aunt Wang's examination, the doctor prescribed a detailed diet and exercise plan for her. First, she needed to adjust her diet to increase her protein and fiber intake to help improve gastrointestinal function and maintain muscle mass.
The doctor also advised her to do a moderate amount of strength training every day, such as light weight dumbbell training, to slow down muscle loss.
After returning home, Aunt Wang began to gradually change her lifestyle according to the doctor's advice. In her daily diet, she deliberately eats more protein-rich foods, such as chicken, tofu, fish, etc., although her appetite is still not large, she tries to eat small and frequent meals to slowly recover her nutritional intake.
At the same time, she also started to do some simple strength training, and although it was very difficult at first, her strength gradually recovered over time.
Encouragement and support from friends
Friends in the community were happy for Aunt Wang when they saw that she was slowly regaining her spirits. Once, a few old friends held a small party for her, and everyone sat around and chatted about the changes in their lives.
Aunt Wang took the initiative to share her experience after going to the hospital for examination, especially the doctor's reminder of the risks behind weight loss. She told everyone sincerely: "Thinness is not a sign of health, especially if you suddenly lose weight like me, it may mean that there is something wrong with your body."
Everyone must pay attention to their diet and exercise, not only by weight, but also by whether they have energy. ”
Friends agreed, and some even smiled and said: "It turns out that we envy you for losing weight, but I didn't expect to be so dangerous." In the future, we have to pay more attention, not only thin, but also healthy! ”
With the encouragement of her friends, Aunt Wang has a clearer understanding of her health and cherishes her life every day.
Why is it not necessarily a good thing for older people to suddenly lose weight?
As the old saying goes, "it's hard to buy a thousand dollars to be thin", and many elderly people also like to see thinness as a symbol of health, thinking that no longer gaining weight means that the body is light. However, this is not the case, especially when the weight of an elderly person suddenly decreases over a short period of time, and often does not mean an improvement in health.
The reason behind it is mostly related to the decline of physical functions, especially the weakening of gastrointestinal function.
As people age, their digestive systems gradually weaken.
Food is digested in the stomach with the help of secretions such as stomach acid, bile, and pancreatic juice, and the production of these secretions decreases significantly in old age. This means that the digestion of food in the gastrointestinal tract slows down, and foods that fail to break down in time can lead to gas, indigestion and even loss of appetite, ultimately leading to weight loss.
This phenomenon is medically called gastrointestinal deterioration, and its main manifestations include symptoms such as indigestion, constipation, and diarrhea.
Especially in older people, due to the body's weakened ability to absorb nutrients, despite the intake of relatively adequate food, the actual absorption of nutrients in the body is not sufficient, which may also be a cause of weight loss.
Poor appetite in the elderly is a direct cause of insufficient nutrient intake, and long-term malnutrition can lead to a series of health problems in the body.
Deficiencies in key nutrients such as proteins, vitamins, and minerals can affect muscle building and immune system function. Protein is an important substance for maintaining muscle mass, and a diet lacking in protein will cause muscle atrophy, weakened immunity, and weakened body resistance, at this time, some underlying diseases such as infections and renal insufficiency are more likely to come to the door.
In addition, vitamin D and calcium deficiencies can make bones more fragile and increase the risk of fractures in older people, especially after a fall, and the recovery process will be very slow. These problems not only directly affect the quality of life of the elderly, but also exacerbate the vicious cycle of weight loss.
The second is endocrine changes.
As we age, the endocrine system of older adults also changes.
Thyroid disorders, particularly hyperthyroidism (hyperthyroidism), are an important cause of sudden weight loss in older people. Hyperthyroidism can lead to an increase in metabolic rate, and even with a normal diet, the body will use energy faster, causing rapid weight loss.
Older people who inexplicably become thinner for a short period of time may need to have their thyroid function checked.
Sarcopenia: The invisible killer of wasting in the elderly
Another major culprit of sudden weight loss in the elderly is actually "sarcopenia".
Sarcopenia is a condition in which the body's muscle mass and function gradually decrease as we age. It affects not only body size, but more importantly, the mobility, quality of life, and health risks of the elderly.
Sarcopenia is medically defined as a progressive decrease in muscle mass and strength, and its pathological mechanism involves a variety of factors.
First of all, the aging of muscle cells is inevitable. As we age, the body's ability to synthesize protein decreases, resulting in a slower rate of muscle cell turnover, and the old muscle cells are gradually broken down, but the new muscle cells are underproduced, ultimately resulting in a decrease in muscle mass.
Secondly, the decrease in growth hormone and testosterone is also a significant factor in the development of sarcopenia.
In the elderly, the levels of growth hormone and testosterone, which play a vital role in the synthesis and maintenance of muscle, are declining year by year, and as they decrease, the synthesis of muscle in the elderly slows down, further aggravating the progression of sarcopenia.
In addition, inflammation is more common in older people, and chronic inflammation can directly destroy muscle tissue.
Many older people suffer from chronic diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, etc., which can also exacerbate muscle wasting and loss.
Older people often mistake the initial manifestations of sarcopenia for natural aging, especially when weight loss is not alert to muscle loss. Usually, the early symptoms of sarcopenia include decreased physical strength, unsteady walking, easy falls, etc.
If you don't pay attention to it in time, it can affect your daily life and even lead to more serious health problems.
How is sarcopenia detected? In addition to professional testing in hospitals, the elderly can also use some simple daily tests to determine whether they have a tendency to sarcopenia. For example:
Grip strength test: Decreased grip strength is a common sign of sarcopenia, and older people can use a grip dynamometer or test on their own to see if grip strength is significantly reduced.
Getting up test: Do you need to rely on armrests or hand assistance when getting up from a chair? If you feel weak in your legs, it may be an early sign of sarcopenia.
Pace detection: Slow gait or walking with the help of crutches may also indicate muscle loss.
The key to preventing sarcopenia is to maintain a healthy diet and exercise regularly.
Protein intake is crucial, and older adults need to consume enough protein each day to help maintain and repair muscle. Protein-rich foods include fish, eggs, legumes, etc.
Proper resistance training can help build muscle strength. Even the elderly can slow down muscle loss with proper strength training, such as light weight dumbbell training, elastic band exercises, etc.
Vitamin D and calcium supplementation, which help maintain bone health and, indirectly, help prevent muscle wasting.
What is the normal weight of the elderly?
Many older people have a question: "What weight should I maintain to be normal?" ”
In fact, there is no fixed standard for the normal weight of the elderly, but it needs to be judged comprehensively according to individual circumstances. Generally speaking, the elderly should not be overweight or underweight, and maintaining a moderate weight is more helpful in delaying aging and preventing diseases.
Body mass index (BMI) is a common indicator of whether an older person is at a normal weight.
BMI is calculated by dividing weight in kilograms by height in meters squared. For older people, a BMI between 22 and 27 is usually appropriate. A BMI that is too low or too high can indicate an abnormal weight and affect the health of the elderly.
However, the health of older adults is not measured solely by BMI values.
Muscle mass is also an important consideration, especially for older adults with a BMI in the normal range but muscle wasting.
Excessive wasting poses a number of potential health risks to older adults.
When older people lose body fat, they are less tolerant of cold, more susceptible to colds or other infectious diseases in the winter, and being underweight increases the risk of osteoporosis and falls and fractures. Bones tend to become brittle when they lack adequate nutrition and exercise stimulation.
Older people who are underweight may also have their immune system function affected.
Studies have shown that in the case of malnutrition, the elderly have weakened immunity, are more susceptible to viruses and bacteria, and suffer from diseases such as upper respiratory tract infections and pneumonia.
To maintain a healthy weight, older adults must focus on the quality of their diet rather than its quantity. High-quality protein, adequate vitamins, and the right amount of minerals are key to maintaining muscle and immune function.
Protein-rich diets, such as fish, poultry, eggs, and soy products, can help older adults maintain muscle mass.
In addition, moderate fat intake is also important for the elderly, especially healthy monounsaturated fats and polyunsaturated fats, such as olive oil, fish oil, etc., which help maintain metabolic balance in the body.
Conclusion: Thinness is not the only criterion for health
Aunt Wang's experience is a wake-up call for us: the sudden weight loss of the elderly is not necessarily a symbol of health, and there may be hidden health risks such as decreased gastrointestinal function and sarcopenia. Older people can't simply be proud of being thin.
Instead, you should always pay attention to your health and check your weight changes regularly, especially if you are losing too quickly.
Overall, healthy ageing requires not only weight control, but also ensuring adequate nutritional intake, proper exercise, and regular medical check-ups. Through a reasonable diet, scientific exercise and timely medical intervention, the elderly can truly achieve "old health".
The sign of health is not only the change of weight, but also the maintenance and improvement of overall body function, and health is always the most cherished wealth. #秋日生活打卡季#
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