Weight loss points to early death in seniors, even if overweight: study

Weight loss — often regarded as the first step to good health — could actually be a death sentence later in life.

A new study found that healthy older adults who lose considerable weight are more at risk of premature death from cancer, cardiovascular disease “and other life-limiting conditions,” authors wrote in a new report. Weight gain in later years, meanwhile, was not associated with increased mortality.

The link between shrinking waistlines and life spans was observed across all starting weights, as even those who were obese faced a higher risk of premature death if they dropped 5% or more of their body weight.

However, authors have noted that weight loss itself was not likely the cause of death, but, rather, a harbinger of it.

The research, published Monday in the JAMA Open Network, analyzed over 16,000 patients from the US and Australia who were over the age of 65 and 70, respectively, and had no underlying health conditions or illnesses such as dementia, cardiovascular disease, life-limiting chronic illnesses or were recently hospitalized.

Researchers used data from the Aspirin in Reducing Events in the Elderly (ASPREE) clinical trial, which took record of the patient’s weight annually between 2010 and 2014.

Defying experts’ expectations about weight loss, as little as a 5% drop in body weight resulted in a higher risk of all-cause mortality compared to those who maintained their weight. they found.

Broken down by gender, men who shed 5-10% of their body weight were at a 33% higher risk of meeting an early grave, and losing more than 10% resulted in 289% increased odds. Women were 25% more at risk of premature death after 5-10% of body weight lost, and 114% worse off with 10% or more weight lost.

The research team, led by Dr. Monira Hussain of Monash University in Australia, did not note whether the weight loss was intentional, such as through a restricted diet, or unintentional, due to illness and otherwise.

Weight loss in older adults is a concern due to the possibility of illness or other health conditions.

“Although it is widely acknowledged that weight loss may precede a diagnosis of cancer, in our study, weight loss also preceded an increased mortality from [cardiovascular disease] and other causes,” the authors wrote. “The latter may include deaths from trauma, dementia, Parkinson disease, and other less common causes.”

Such underlying illnesses could cause a “reduced appetite influenced by inflammation and hormones,” Dr. Hussain told CNN.

The study authors urged clinicians to be more “aware of the significant association with mortality of even relatively minor weight loss,” they wrote.

Earlier this year, the World Obesity Federation issued a stark report: In just 12 years, over half of the global population is projected to be overweight or obese. According to Mayo Clinic, being obese is associated with heart disease, strokes, Type 2 diabetes, certain types of cancer, digestive issues and other complications.

In an attempt to remedy the obesity epidemic, researchers are working on injections and pills to curb weight gain and promote weight loss in people struggling with diet and exercise or who have underlying medical conditions. Ozempic, or Wegovy, is the latest fad jab to sweep Hollywood, as A-listers scramble for the pound-shedding elixir, which is typically marketed to people with Type 2 diabetes.