Health consequences of obesity in the elderly

The prevalence of obesity is increasing in all age groups. According to a 2001 census and the projection made by the United Nations (1996 revision), the elderly constitute 7.5% of the Indian population, and by all indications 21% of the Indian population will be 60 years and above by 2050. Medical science discoveries, improved lifestyle, and social conditions during the past few decades have increased the life span of man. Life expectancy at birth in developed countries is over 70 years. Questions have risen about the relation between obesity in old age and total or disease-specific mortality, the definition of obesity in the elderly, its clinical relevance, and about the need for its treatment. Information about changes in body composition and fat distribution among the elderly will help us better understand the relationships between obesity and morbidity in the elderly