Overweight and Weight Loss Assignment 2022

Running head: OVERWEIGHT AND WEIGHT LOSS
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Overweight, Weight Loss and Aging
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Introduction
In the current world obesity among the older population is becoming a major health
concern, mostly with the aging age groups. Obesity or overweight is defined as a health
condition which is marked by excess accumulation of fat in the body, these results in increased
risk of developing other health conditions (Nuttall, 2015). In our society, aging and obesity is
rising in elderly and precipitating the huge burden of healthcare as a result of increased fat and
body weight and the main risk factor being inactivity and poor diet. Therefore there is a need for
comprehensive research to investigate major risks and health benefits which are associated with
weight management among the elderly population, in order to ensure quality life and better
health outcome. A static body mass index is commonly known as (BMI), obesity and overweight
usually screen sarcopenia where an individual gains body fat, however, there is loss of functional
capacity and muscle mass (Batsis et al., 2014). A systematic literature review was conducted
using the following key searches; weight loss elderly and obesity which were from four different
articles which focused on the overweight and obesity in the elderly population. The literature
review will focus on major finding from four articles such as the research rationale, sampling
methods utilized, major findings, limitation, conclusions made and implications for future
research.
The title of the first article was the weight loss intervention in older adults who have
obesity. The main focus of this study was to establish various interventions which can be applied
to guide clinical recommendations in weight loss management among geriatric obesity. Authors
focused on weight loss interventions which do not require pharmacological therapies. The
method which was applied during the data collection process was random controlled trials. The
study utilized meta-analyses criteria and the outcomes were quality of life, physical function, and

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weight loss. The results of the study were that greater success in weight loss was seen in those
participants who had a dietary element in their plan rather more than those groups which had
exercises alone. According to Batsis et al (2017), exercises do not result in a weight loss but it
causes an individual to have a better physical function of the body. A combination of exercises
and dietary components led to a greater improvement of the physical function of the body,
improved quality of life and also reducing the mass of bones and muscles. The conclusion was
that exercise alone helps in the improvement of the physical functions of the body. However, if
the desired outcome is weight loss, the health practitioners should consider a combination of
dietary and exercise program gives a maximum improvement of physical function and this
enhances the quality of life among the aging helping in mitigating sarcopenia. The limitations of
the study were that there are limited studies which are focusing on obesity in geriatric population
and interventions. Therefore, there is a need for more designed trials in the geriatric population.
The second article was the restriction of calories in overweight adults. This study focused
on determining if the advantages of calories restriction in overweight adults exceed potential
risks. According to Locher et al (2016) there is limited evidence of guidance of restriction of
calories as part of a lifestyle approach in weight loss management in overweight adults.
Therefore the rationale was in three folds, to provide current evidence which has been linked
with restriction of calories in promoting weight loss among the overweight adults, to investigate
the pros and cons of calories restriction when combined with exercise and to consider various
changes which occur to the obese adults after the restriction of calories. Restriction of calories
provides short-term benefits to those obese adults who have physical impairments and risks of
cardio-metabolic diseases. Restriction of calories offers some advantages with respect to loss of
fat mass and weight (Li and Heber, 2012). The restriction of calories results in an improvement