Accessible Home Health on how to lose weight – LIVING WELL Magazine

Diet and Exercise – The Key to Weight Loss

By Rokeya Sultana, Accessible Home Health, Collin LIVING WELL Magazine

A combination of diet and exercise can help obese seniors lose weight and stay fit much better than either diet or exercise alone. This had not been proven previously in people over 65 years of age.

But the findings from a new study suggest that older people, with approval from a physician, should combine diet and weight management to improve their physical function and their quality of life. This in turn will delay the need for institutionalization.

At least 20% of the elderly are obese – a step above being simply overweight – and that number will grow as more baby boomers age. In the study, the participants were assigned to one of four groups: Some took part in a 90-minute exercise routine three times a week, others reduced their diets by 500 to 700 calories a day, the third group dieted and exercised, while a fourth group did none of the programs.

Those who dieted and exercised did the best, losing 9% of their weight while retaining lean body mass, increasing oxygen consumption and improving their strength and balance. The diet-alone group lost 10% of their weight but did not achieve similar physical improvements. And the exercise group, along with the group that did nothing, lost no weight.

Obesity exacerbates the age-related decline in physical functions, which causes frailty, impairs quality of life, and results in increases in nursing home admissions.

With the help of a home health care agency, a person’s weight loss or gain can be observed, maintained, and controlled. Making it part of a regimen of home health care is the key! Combining a healthy diet and exercise is key to becoming healthier. With the assistance of a reputable home health agency, these two things can be incorporated into the routine of therapy, medication management, and even transportation services to various doctor’s visits.

Author Rokeya Sultana is the owner of Accessible Home Health Care of Collin County.

Accessible Home Health Care is a full service home health care provider. If you have any questions or need assistance, please call at 972-516-4384. You can also visit their website at www.accessiblecollin.com.