Older adults benefit from losing excess weight

Although the importance of a healthy weight is frequently touted by the medical community, weight loss has traditionally been discouraged among older people, partly because of health concerns over inadvertent reductions in muscle and bone mass. A study from Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, supports the benefits of intentional weight loss for this population. The researchers found that physical activity and weight loss conducted together for older overweight and obese adults improves body composition, translating into lower cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk and better mobility.