Unfortunately, there are some senior citizens who are overweight. Some of them are even obese. The reason it is so vital for elderly people to be a healthy weight is that the extra weight can cause a lot more issues for senior citizens than it can for younger adults.
If your elderly loved one is overweight or obese, it may be a good idea to learn about the tips that can help senior citizens to lose weight. They aren’t always the same tips that younger adults would use.
Hormonal Management
One of the common reasons why elderly women, particularly, are obese is due to menopause. After a certain age, hormones start to reduce. With elderly women, they go through menopause which can cause hot flashes, nausea, weight gain, and other health issues. Weight gain can be quite severe with some elderly people. If this is what is happening for your elderly loved one, you or a companion care at home provider should have them see their doctor. There may be specific recommendations that could help someone in your elderly loved one’s state to lose weight. There may even be supplements or specific diets they can follow.
Healthy Eating Plan
If your elderly loved one is overweight or obese, it is time for them to start a healthy eating plan. Make sure you remember that starting and sticking to a new eating plan takes time and dedication. Your elderly loved one isn’t likely to just stop eating everything that is bad for them. You and/or senior citizen care providers may need to help your elderly loved one to slowly weed out the unhealthy foods from their diet. For example, you can start by having them replace one can of soda with one bottle of water. As they get used to that change, then, another change can be implemented.
Proper Exercise
People who are overweight often have a more difficult time with exercising. The extra weight puts strain on their muscles, bones, and joints. They need to slowly add in exercises and make sure they can do them without injury. It would be a good plan to have home care providers stay with your elderly loved one when they do any workouts. The providers can help to ensure your elderly loved one doesn’t fall or overdo the exercise routine.
Conclusion
Obesity is tough on anyone, especially senior citizens. If your elderly loved one is overweight or obese, hopefully, the tips noted above will help them to start losing weight. Keep in mind that this is a process. It isn’t something that is going to happen overnight. Your elderly loved one needs time to implement new lifestyle habits.
If you or a loved one are looking for experienced Companion Care at Home in Arlington, VA, contact SenCura at 703-880-2547. Providing in-home senior care in Northern Virginia.
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