Weight Loss

Abstract

Due to a reduction both in body fat and in lean muscle mass there is a gradual decrease in body weight with advancing age. This is scarcely noticeable in the individual unless his or her weight is recorded over a considerable period of time. The maintenance of body weight depends on the balance between energy expenditure and energy (food) intake. In the elderly, and especially in extreme old age, both a decrease in the basal metabolic rate and a decrease in the level of activity combine to lower energy expenditure. This is accompanied by a decrease in energy intake so that weight is maintained within a narrow range.