Dietary weight-loss interventions for the management of obesity in older adults

The obesity epidemic has reached old age in most industrialized countries, but trials elucidating the benefits and risks of weight reduction in older adults above 70 years of age with obesity remain scarce. While some findings demonstrate a reduced risk of mortality and other negative health outcome...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Reviews in endocrine & metabolic disorders 2020-09, Vol.21 (3), p.355-368
Main Authors: Goisser, Sabine, Kiesswetter, Eva, Schoene, Daniel, Torbahn, Gabriel, Bauer, Jürgen M.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Body mass index
Body weight
Body weight loss
Bone mass
Bone mineral density
Diabetes
Dietary restrictions
Endocrinology
Internal Medicine
Long-term effects
Medicine
Medicine & Public Health
Obesity
Older people
Overweight
Weight control
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Summary:The obesity epidemic has reached old age in most industrialized countries, but trials elucidating the benefits and risks of weight reduction in older adults above 70 years of age with obesity remain scarce. While some findings demonstrate a reduced risk of mortality and other negative health outcomes in older individuals with overweight and mild obesity (i.e. body mass index (BMI)  27 kg/m 2 ), especially when combined with exercise. However, in this age group weight reduction is usually associated with a reduction of muscle mass and bone mineral density. Since uncertainty persists as to which level overweight or obesity might be tolerable (or even beneficial) for older persons, current recommendations are to consider weight reducing diets only for older persons that are obese (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m 2 ) and have weight-related health problems. Precise treatment modalities (e.g. appropriate level of caloric restriction and indicated dietary composition, such as specific dietary patterns or optimal protein content) as well as the most effective and safest way of adding exercise are still under research. Moreover, the long-term effects of weight-reducing interventions in older individuals remain to be clarified, and dietary concepts that work for older adults who are unable or unwilling to exercise are required. In conclusion, further research is needed to elucidate which interventions are effective in reducing obesity-related health risks in older adults without causing relevant harm in this vulnerable population.
ISSN:1389-9155
1573-2606
DOI:10.1007/s11154-020-09577-2