The causes of too many kilos
We tend to put on weight faster in middle age. The metabolism slows down. The body switches from growth to maintenance of body mass and consumes less energy because it reduces muscle mass and builds up fat. Lower oestrogen levels in women and testosterone levels in men also cause the stomach to grow and muscles to shrink.
Another very important reason: as we get older, we move less. This not only consumes less energy, but also has the same effect: we lose muscle mass and, depending on our eating style, gain fat mass. “However, weight gain can also occur due to illness, such as hypothyroidism or when taking medication such as neuroleptics and cortisone, which increase appetite,” says Freystätter.
Being overweight can make you forgetful
Being slightly overweight can support the health of older people. However, being overweight can also lead to widespread health risks such as diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels or a fatty liver. “Obesity or an unhealthy diet and little exercise are also known risks for dementia, as the brain is less well supplied with blood,” explains Freystätter.
When the kilos suddenly tumble
In old age, the tide seems to turn for many people and they lose kilos unintentionally, Freystätter’s experience shows. Gabriele Pliessnig, nutritionist at the Department of Endocrinology, Diabetology and Clinical Nutrition at the University Hospital Zurich, confirms: “Our elderly patients usually come to us for nutritional therapy with a loss of appetite or malnutrition.”
There are various triggers for unwanted weight loss: your appetite decreases and you feel full more quickly due to your slower metabolism. Sense of smell and taste decrease and you eat less. Other reasons may include inadequate dental health and poorly fitting dentures. Depression or a period of mourning reduce appetite. Unexplained weight loss can also be a sign of dementia because you simply forget to eat. Certain medications can also lead to a loss of appetite and subsequent weight loss. “It becomes critical if you lose more than 5 percent of your weight within three months,” says Freystätter. “Then there is a risk of malnutrition and a doctor’s consultation would be recommended.”
Underweight and its consequences
If we eat too little, our body lacks energy and important nutrients. In old age, for example, protein and calcium, but also vitamin D, are particularly important. “If the body lacks them, it breaks down muscle and bone mass, which makes us frail and increases the risk of falls and therefore osteoporosis-related bone fractures,” says Pliessnig, adding: “This can lead to a vicious circle, as patients with bone fractures hardly move and therefore break down even more muscle mass.”
Freystätter mentions another risk: “If the body lacks energy and nutrients, the brain also lacks them, which in turn can promote dementia.” For these reasons, you should stop losing weight from the age of 70. “Unless you are very overweight and the reduction is achieved with a lot of exercise and monitored by a specialist,” says Pliessnig. She also points out that malnutrition is not necessarily related to weight. “If you are overweight, you can be malnourished and lack important nutrients.” A balanced diet and plenty of exercise therefore remain the be-all and end-all into old age.
