Sudden weight loss in elderly people can lead to irreversible health problems or be a sign that serious health problems are occurring. Testing and nutritional monitoring can show physicians or caregivers why mysterious weight loss occurs within older people. If you are caring for an elderly person who has experienced sudden weight loss, there are steps to follow that will ensure his caloric intake is being met each day.
Causes
Illnesses that contribute to unintentional weight loss in the elderly include depression, lung cancer, gastrointestinal cancer, heart problems and benign gastrointestinal diseases. If an elderly person is losing weight and taking medication, examine side effects and see if nausea, vomiting, dysphagia (problems swallowing), dysgeusia (distorted taste) or loss of appetite are possible effects. According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, 25 percent of elderly patients with unintentional weight loss never find an underlying cause for their weight deficit.
Effects
Elderly people with sudden weight loss are more likely to experience infection, depression or death than elderly counterparts maintaining stable weight. Sudden weight loss contributes to muscle depletion, immune-suppression and complication of existing disease. The American Academy of Family Physicians reports a study that showed institutionalized elderly people who lost 5 percent of their body weight in one month were found to be four times more likely to die within one year.
Prevention/Solution
Physicians, pharmacists, caregivers and dietitians work together to prevent or resolve sudden weight loss in elderly people. Logging calorie intake and keeping track of preferred food can assist in determining if nutritional needs are being met. Dry mouths can cause anorexia, therefore regular drinking should be encouraged, as well as application of petroleum jelly to dry lips and offering hard candy or gum, which can stimulate saliva production. Drink or snack supplements should be offered in-between meals when calorie goals are not being met.
Physical Examination
Laboratory tests that may be ordered for an elderly patient with sudden weight loss include a fecal occult blood test, a complete blood count, a chemistry panel, an ultra-sensitive thyroid-stimulating hormone test and a urinalysis. Upper gastrointestinal studies may be ordered by a physician in selected patients. The physical examination should include an evaluation of the mouth, lungs and the gastrointestinal system because sores in the mouth can deter eating and lung and gastrointestinal cancers are most likely to be blamed for unexpected weight loss.
Considerations
Management of weight loss in elderly people focuses on treating underlying causes and providing nutritional support. The patient's environment and interest in eating food should be considered, as well as the improvement of symptoms and adequate nourishment. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has not labeled appetite stimulants appropriate to treat weight loss in the elderly.
Member Comments