A report recently released by the United States government indicates that 40 percent of people in this country are obese. 10 percent of them are severely obese. Sadly, those numbers are going up quickly. Between 1999 and 2018, the rate of obesity went up by 12 percent and the number of severely obese people doubled.
Obesity is a serious health problem because it is linked to diseases like diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, and more. Obesity is defined as having a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher. Severe obesity is having a BMI of 40 or higher. If your parent is overweight or obese, no matter their age, it’s not too late for them to lose weight and improve their health. Below are some tips that can help older adults to lose weight.
Make Exercise a Regular Part of the Day
Exercise is an important part of weight loss because it helps to burn calories. The only sure-fire way to lose weight is to use up more calories than the senior consumes. Unfortunately, exercise can be more complicated for some seniors because of pain from chronic conditions, such as arthritis. After getting the okay from the doctor, your parent should start slowly. There are many kinds of gentle exercise that burn calories while being easier on the body, such as yoga or swimming.
Increase Protein Intake
Dieting can cause muscle loss. To prevent that, seniors should eat more protein. Experts recommend eating a gram of protein for every 2.2 pounds of body weight. Some healthy sources of protein are fish, eggs, and skinless poultry.
Eat Smaller Amounts More Frequently
Eating smaller amounts of food throughout the day instead of eating three big meals can help keep the metabolism running more efficiently. They should eat at least every 3 hours during the day. However, it’s important to still keep the calorie count lower for weight loss. Writing down what the senior eats and the associated calories can help to keep them within their caloric limits.
Senior care can also assist with weight loss. Senior care providers can cook healthy, low-calorie meals. The senior care provider can also serve the meal in portion sizes that are appropriate and not too large. In addition, senior care can help the elder adult to add more physical activity in their day by taking a walk with them and involving them in things at home that gets them moving.
The staff at Home Care Matters is available to talk with you and your family about all of your needs. Home Care Matters is a home care agency providing quality and affordable Home Care in Sugar Hill, GA, and surrounding areas. Call (770) 965.4004 for more information.
Sources
Webmd.com
Silversneakers.com
Webmd.com
Valerie has the unique experience with home care as she has experienced it from both ends of the spectrum, as a caregiver and as needing care herself as a cancer survivor. Valerie says, “Taking care of someone you love is a physically, mentally and demanding labor of love.Taking care of my mom was the hardest thing I have ever done. It has given me an insight and perspective not many people understand unless you are doing it or have done it.I loved taking care of my mom.I love helping others take care of their love ones too.And now that I’ve been sick, it’s given me a whole new level of empathy and understanding for those who are sick and need help.”
Valerie’s schedule varies daily, but she loves visiting with our clients, families, caregivers, our network partners and being in the office.Says Valerie, “Every day is different, but I wake up excited about what we do, inspired by our team, clients and caregivers.I strive to be a resource to the community.I love my team and I love what we do every day. I like to think my mom would be proud.”
You can reach Valerie by email (Valerie@homecarematters.com) or in our office (770.965.4004).
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