Age is no barrier to successful weight loss

A University of Warwick-led study has found that age is no barrier to successful weight loss. There are more than fifty co-morbidities that can be lessened as a person loses weight, including diabetes, psychiatric problems such as depression and anxiety, and mechanical problems like osteoarthritis. According to this study, Obese patients over the age of 60 can lose an equivalent amount of weight as younger people using only lifestyle changes.

To quote the lead author of the study, Dr Thomas Barber, “There are a number of reasons why people may discount weight loss in older people. These include an ‘ageist’ perspective that weight-loss is not relevant to older people and misconceptions of the reduced ability of older people to lose weight through dietary modification and increased exercise. Older people may feel that hospital-based obesity services are not for them. Service providers and policymakers should appreciate the importance of weight loss in older people with obesity, for the maintenance of health and wellbeing, and the facilitation of healthy ageing.”

You can read the full story here: https://warwick.ac.uk/newsandevents/pressreleases/age_is_no