This is the reason the elderly need to maintain ideal body weight & bull; hello healthy

As you get older, maintaining your weight is not only more challenging, it becomes more important, especially if you or a loved one is in the elderly category (60 years and over).

This is because body weight, both under and overweight or obese, can affect the health of the elderly. For that, you need to maintain or support your loved ones in maintaining their ideal weight in old age.

Body Mass Index (BMI) is normal for the elderly

If you want to find out whether you or your loved one's weight is ideal, under or overweight, you can calculate your Body Mass Index (BMI) to determine it.

According to WHO, Body Mass Index (BMI) or Body Mass Index (BMI) is a simple index of body weight for height used to classify overweight and obesity in adults. BMI is defined as body weight in kilograms divided by height in meters (kg / m2).

The standard BMI category for adults is divided into five, namely:

<18.5 = Weight too low
18.5 - 24.9 = Normal or ideal
25-29 = Excess weight or fat
30 - 39,9 = Obesity
> 40 = Extreme obesity or high risk

However, keep in mind that the ideal BMI in the elderly is in the range of 25 to 27. Don't let you or your loved ones have a BMI that is less than 25. For example, for elderly people who are over 65 years old, it is better to have a BMI that is higher than the normal range to protect the body from the risk of thinning bones or osteoporosis.

The manual formula for calculating BMI is Weight (kg): . However, if you want to calculate it quickly, you can find out here.

The importance of maintaining body weight for the elderly

The elderly need to maintain an ideal body weight considering that there are several health risks if they become overweight or obese, or if they are underweight.

Risk factors for obesity in the elderly

The CDC defines obesity as the result of an imbalance in energy intake in the form of calories from food and drink consumed, with energy used to carry out metabolic and physical functions.

Quoting from a study entitled Obesity in Elderly, obesity is a health problem that must be considered because it can increase the risk of dangerous diseases in the elderly such as hypertension, dyslipidemia (high cholesterol), diabetes and heart disease.

In the same study, obesity was stated to trigger stress in the joints, causing limited mobility. In addition, obesity can also cause breathing problems such as obstructive sleep apnea (stopping breathing during sleep).

In fact, the elderly with high BMI levels are also at risk of developing cancers such as breast, uterine and colorectal cancer and leukemia.

Factors for underweight in the elderly

Elderly people whose body weight does not reach the ideal BMI of 25 to 27 also need to be vigilant. The reason is that weight loss can cause muscle mass to shrink or it is called sarcopenia.

Sarcopenia is a common condition in old age. This syndrome is characterized by a decrease in muscle mass and overall muscle strength and is often associated with a risk of physical disabilities, decreased quality of life and death.

Apart from sarcopenia, being underweight also increases your risk of health problems including:

Loss of the protective effect of fat (for example in hip fractures)
Atherosclerosis or narrowing of the blood vessels
Fracture
The immune system decreases, making it susceptible to infection
Lack of essential nutrients such as vitamins and minerals

What's more, the elderly often experience a loss of appetite. As a result, there is weight loss.

Based on the study of An overview of appetite decline in older people, there are several causes for decreased appetite in the elderly, including:

Digestive system changes
Hormonal changes
Changes in the senses of smell, taste and sight.
Depression
Dementia (decreased memory)
Are taking medications such as antibiotics and muscle aches

How to maintain ideal body weight in the elderly

Elderly can apply several ways to maintain ideal body weight, so as not to be obese or underweight. Here are the ways.

1. Keeping the body active

Do light exercise such as walking every day, actively moving at home with frequent activities, and participating in special sports classes for the elderly.

2. Implement a healthy diet

If you or your loved one is obese, then you must change your diet by choosing foods such as:

Foods that contain low-fat protein
Green vegetable
Whole grains
Fruits

However, if you or your loved one has a medical history so you cannot apply the above diet, consult your doctor about the best diet for your body.

Meanwhile, for the elderly who have difficulty gaining weight, they can schedule several meals and eat nutritious snacks every day. Protein drinks are also recommended for the elderly who have lost their appetite.

3. Consuming

Elderly who begin to lose their appetite certainly need additional nutrition. You can consume milk that is rich in the following nutrients:

Whey Protein to maintain muscle strength
Vitamin D to maintain bone density
Vitamins E, B6, and B12 to increase endurance
Prebiotics and Probiotics to maintain digestive health
Vegetable fat to maintain heart health

Milk with the five ingredients above can be used as additional nutrition to meet the nutritional needs of the elderly, which are not obtained from daily food consumption.

Milk is one of the right sources of nutritional supplements for the elderly because it contains important nutrients that your body needs in old age. Thus, the combination of a healthy and balanced diet with nutrient-rich milk is a complete combination in an effort to meet the daily nutritional needs of the elderly's body. Consult with your doctor to get dietary recommendations according to your health condition or your loved ones.