Obesity in the Elderly

Abstract

With obesity there is an increase in relative risk of type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular diseases. These can induce a vicious circle of a downward spiral of morbidity and mortality. Obesity is also associated with disability and health costs. In the US alone, it is $192.2 billion. This would be a formidable worldwide cost if interpolated globally. Obesity is also associated with sleep disturbance, respiratory difficulties, joint and mobility disorders, as well as social stigma. Treatments are varied and multifaceted and one shoe does not fit all. The different treatments are a low caloric diet (600 calories/day—this is quite debatable in the elderly); motivational and behavior approaches to sustain changes in eating and activity, these too need a lot of dedicated workforce; and drug treatment should be regarded as a therapeutic trial. Drugs should be stopped if there is no weight loss in two months' time. All drugs have side effects.