I Am Elderly: What Should I Eat to Gain Weight?

As people grow older, weight can be a health concern.

Currently, the threat of health concerns over obesity is in the spotlight. But concerns about people that are underweight, especially elderly people, are not addressed as often. As people age, reactions to food and appetite change.

Function

Aging not only changes the way a person looks, but it also affects how their body reacts to different stimuli. Metabolism slows and activity dwindles, usually bringing about weight gain. But, the sense of smell and taste shrinks with time, causing some elderly people to under eat, resulting in unhealthy low weights.

Identification

Specific foods to help gain weight, but still keep healthy, include fish, milk, cheese, eggs, and lean meat. The key to gaining weight is to eat foods high in protein.

Considerations

Being underweight can have ill affects on the body's immune system, allowing illness to set in; whereas if the body was a normal weight, the body would have a chance to fight off the illness invaders.

References

• The AGS Foundation for Health in Aging: Weight Loss and Nutrition Problems