Although the elderly may require fewer calories than younger adults due to decreased activity levels and lower metabolic rates, deliberate dieting can pose health risks to them. Diets that require significant calorie restriction or the elimination of a food group may lead to malnutrition or dehydration. Before starting a diet, consult your doctor about whether the benefits of a weight loss program outweigh the potential dangers.
Lean Tissue Loss
As part of the aging process, the percentage of fat in your body may increase as you age, while your lean tissue mass decreases. In the elderly, calorie-restricted diets may actually increase lean tissue loss rather than promote a reduction in body fat. A slow, sustained weight loss may help obese seniors manage their blood sugar, maintain their mobility and reduce their risk of metabolic disorders and heart disease, Drs. Ioannis Kyrou and Constantine Tsigos note in an article published in the November 2009 issue of "Diabetes Care." However, weight loss should take place under medical supervision with careful attention to maintaining nutritional status and lean tissue mass. Unless significant weight reduction is medically necessary, the total loss should not exceed more than 10 percent of an elderly person's initial body weight.
Nutritional Imbalance
Malnutrition and unintentional weight loss may cause more health complications among the elderly than being overweight, Kyrou and Tsigos note. Diets that involve a restriction of a food group may compromise seniors' need for protein, fiber, vitamin B-12, vitamin D and calcium. Protein promotes the growth of lean tissue and speeds wound healing. Vitamin B-12 supports healthy cognitive function, and vitamin D and calcium help you maintain bone density. Eating plans that reduce breads and cereals, eggs, meat or dairy products may deprive you of these nutrients. Malnutrition can weaken your immune system, make you prone to falls and fractures, cause digestive complications and delay wound healing.
Dehydration
In addition to the liquids that you consume in water or other beverages each day, the foods that you eat add fluids to your diet. According to the Institute of Medicine, about 80 percent of the average adult's total fluid intake comes from water, and the other 20 percent comes from food. Fresh fruits and vegetables have a high water content. Milk, juice and soups add to the total volume of fluids that you consume each day. Restricting the amount or type of food that you eat may result in an unintentional loss of liquids. Because your sense of thirst may diminish as you age, getting adequate hydration from foods and liquids becomes increasingly important.
Alternatives
If your doctor advises you to lose weight in order to manage diabetes or improve your cardiovascular health, increasing your activity level may be a healthier approach than dieting. Exercise may increase your lean tissue mass, lower your blood pressure and stabilize your blood sugar while helping you lose weight at a gradual pace. Rather than eliminating food groups, work with your doctor or a dietitian to find healthier alternatives within each group. Replace full-fat milk with skim or low-fat versions and fatty meats with skinless chicken or fish. Substitute whole grains, fruits and vegetable and beans for foods that are high in refined sugar and flour. Replace butter, margarine and hydrogenated vegetable oils with foods that contain monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats, such as olive oil, avocados and nuts. Consult your doctor for a medical evaluation before beginning any weight loss or exercise program.
References
- "Diabetes Care"; Obesity in the Elderly Diabetic Patient: Is Weight Loss Beneficial? No; Ioannis Kyrou, M.D. and Constantine Tsigos, M.D., Ph.D.; November 2009
- HelpGuide.org: Senior Nutrition: The Joy of Eating Well and Aging Well
- Mayo Clinic: Senior Health: How to Detect and Prevent Malnutrition
- Institute of Medicine: Dietary Reference Intakes: Water, Potassium, Sodium, Chloride, and Sulfate
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