Weight gain can increase the risk of heart disease, diabetes, kidney failure, poor muscle strength, and other health issues in elderly people, which is why they need to find ways to lose weight and keep it off. Losing weight can boost mental, physical, and emotional wellbeing. Continue reading to discover tips that can help older adults shed weight.
Adopt Healthy Eating Habits
Seniors need to avoid high-calorie foods that leave them feeling hungry and choose nutritious options that satisfy their hunger and prevent overeating. They also need to practice portion control. Instead of eating until the food is gone, your parent should stop eating once he or she feels satiated. Avoiding overeating can lower the risk of obesity and help with weight management.
Seniors need to plan out their weekly meals and always create a shopping list prior to going to the grocery store. The best foods for adults to eat in their golden years are:
- Fish
- Beans
- Fruits
- Vegetables
- Lean meats
- Whole grains
- Fat-free dairy products
If you’re the family caregiver for a senior loved one and you find it challenging to have the time to shop for the healthiest foods, consider hiring a professional caregiver to take over your duties for an hour or two a day or a few days a month. Some seniors need occasional assistance at home, and oftentimes the family members who take care of them need time away to run errands, take a nap, go to work, or take a vacation. Orlando respite care experts from Assisting Hands Home Care are available on an as-needed basis, giving your family peace of mind that your loved one will remain safe and comfortable while you relax or focus on other important responsibilities.
Exercise More
Staying physically active can help seniors lose weight, boost their bone health, reduce the risk of obesity, and prevent diabetes. For weight loss, older adults need to take up endurance and aerobic activities such as biking or dancing.
One of the best exercises for seniors who want to lose weight is walking. Encourage your parent to walk more while out in public. For example, your loved one should take the stairs instead of the elevator or walk from the parking lot instead of getting dropped off close to the entrance.
Families whose loved ones need assistance with exercising should consider hiring trained caregivers to provide encouragement and help with exercise. When considering in-home care Orlando, families should make sure their senior loved ones have the resources they need to maintain their independence and remain healthy. Trusted in-home care professionals can assist seniors with daily tasks like cooking, bathing, and exercise, and they can also encourage them to focus on healthier lifestyle habits.
Manage Stress
Excessive levels of cortisol in the body can lead to overeating and other bad habits. Chronic stress can also cause the body to hold on to weight for self-preservation. When stress levels rise, seniors may experience higher insulin levels. As a result, blood sugar drops, and seniors may begin to crave fatty foods that cause weight gain. To prevent this from happening, your loved one needs to manage his or her stress levels, which can be achieved by adopting healthy lifestyle habits and avoiding toxic people, places, and things.
Drink More Water
Skipping high-calorie beverages can help older adults maintain a healthy weight. Drinking water boosts metabolism and burns more calories, which is the result of the body working harder to warm up the water. Preventing dehydration by drinking water is also important because dehydration can stop the liver from functioning normally and cause the body’s fat-burning process to be less effective. Make sure your loved one drinks at least eight 8-ounce glasses of water each day in addition to avoiding sugary and alcoholic beverages.
For seniors who find it challenging to lose weight on their own, professional caregivers can provide the reinforcement and direction they need to make lasting lifestyle changes. Not every senior has the same care needs, which means they don’t all need the same type of home care. Orlando families can rely on Assisting Hands Home Care to provide individualized care plans to meet their elderly loved ones’ unique care needs. Our caregivers help seniors focus on healthy lifestyle habits such as eating nutritious foods, exercising regularly, and maintaining strong social ties, and we offer mentally stimulating activities that can boost cognitive health and delay the onset of dementia. Call Assisting Hands Home Care to learn more about our flexible and customizable senior care plans.