Appetite is a natural desire or need for food. Although an appetite out of control can be a problem, a good appetite is most often a sign of health and well-being. Appetite is a combination of:
Loss of appetite can cause health problems if you stop eating properly or enough. Activity levels and body functions gradually slow down as you get older and you may not need as many calories as you needed at age 20. But you still need the right mix of proteins, minerals, and vitamins throughout life in order to stay healthy.
Most often, loss of appetite is not a symptom of a serious disease, but sometimes it is. It can be a sign of illness, ranging from depression to signs of a slowly developing cancer.
Older adults may lose interest in food due to:
Getting out to shop for groceries may be difficult. Even if getting out is not a problem, it may not seem worth the effort to shop and prepare food for 1 person.
Some people tend to eat more as they get older. Eating can be a way to take your mind off your troubles, or a way to try and get the energy to deal with things.
Symptoms may include:
Think about why you have less appetite or more appetite than you used to have. Loneliness is one of the most common reasons. It might help to arrange to eat lunch with friends or a relative sometimes, or eat some of your meals at a senior center. Keep food available that requires little energy to prepare and can be eaten right out of the refrigerator or easily heated in the microwave. Avoid cooking strong-smelling foods (such as fish or cauliflower) if that seems to affect your appetite.
One problem with poor appetite is that you may not be getting enough vitamins and minerals to keep you healthy. Be sure to include fresh fruit and vegetables in your diet. You can often use the salad bar at your local grocery store to get variety without having to buy more than you need. This will also help if you are constipated.
Whether you are eating too little or too much, set regular meal times. Eat smaller meals more often. Eat 3 or 4 small meals through the day, rather than 1 or 2 large ones. Eat slowly and relax for 30 minutes after eating. If you are underweight, you may also need 2 or 3 snacks between meals to gain weight.
Exercise is the other important factor in appetite control. Exercise will improve a poor appetite. It will also help burn off excess calories if you are overweight. Try to walk at least a mile a day. You will often find senior walking groups at shopping malls before the stores open. Contact your local parks and recreation department or your local senior center to find out if there is a group near you.
Contact your provider if:
When you see your provider about a significant loss of appetite, he or she will review your general health, examine you, and do some simple blood tests. If you have lost 15 pounds or more in the past 6 months or less, you may also have urine tests, a chest X-ray, and an abdominal ultrasound test.
Any unexplained appetite loss that lasts longer than a week could be a sign of a more serious problem.
There is a wide range of healthy weights for any particular height. Also, being fit and healthy is more complicated than just having a good weight. Still, no matter what medical problems you have, there is a range of normal healthy weights for your height. Here is a simple table showing the low to high ranges of healthy weight according to your height:
---------------------------------------------------------- Height Low Ideal Weight High Ideal Weight 5 feet 100 lb 125 lb 5 feet, 6 inches 120 lb 150 lb 6 feet, 0 inches 145 lb 180 lb ----------------------------------------------------------
You can check with your healthcare provider to see if you should be concerned about your weight.
