In seniors, what is the recommended BMI range?
We are more likely to develop heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, etc., if we have a high BMI. All age groups are affected by these issues, not just the elderly. Hence, it can be said that BMI directly affects seniors’ health. The findings of these studies have led some experts to recommend a BMI of 25-27 for seniors. The “normal” BMI range for older adults (23-30) is in the “overweight” category in the standard BMI table for adults.
A senior’s BMI may differ from an adult’s, leading to different recommendations regarding maintaining a healthy weight. Adults with a BMI of 25-29.9 are considered overweight, so older people are often advised to lose weight if their BMI is in this range, which is an unwise suggestion.
A senior’s weight loss may result in muscle loss since they have less muscle mass than younger people. Hence, urging individuals to reduce their weight to “normal” (based on the BMI ranges for adults) may increase the risk of mortality and a poor quality of life for seniors. Therefore, we need to stop encouraging older adults to lose weight despite having an average body mass index. `