Anorexia and weight loss in the elderly

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Active elderly women need to take in about 1,800 kcal a day and men about 2,400. They may have a lower intake for some reason that can be remedied relatively easily, such as the inability to obtain favorite foods, decreased interest in meals because of boredom, or a lack of understanding of what their bodies require. However, weight loss may have a serious medical cause, such as intestinal obstruction, emphysema, or severe infection. Some patients are readily treated with the withdrawal of something—a counterproductive medication, a sore tooth, alcohol. The authors summarize the great variety of causes that should be considered.