Bigger Does Not Mean Better
A new study released in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society states that obese older adults may be more prone to a disabling fall than their thinner counterparts. Most people view falling in seniors as a problem more segregated to thinner frailer adults, however, obesity carries its own set of risks. According to Christine L. Himes, one of the researchers of the new study hailing from Syracuse University in New York ``People who are obese may have a harder time with balance``. Himes adds that when they lose their footing, obese older adults may be less able to react quickly to stop a fall.
Himes and her colleague Sandra L. Reynolds found that obese older adults were roughly 12-50% more likely to suffer a fall over a period of two years than their normal-weight peers. The odds rise pending on the level of obesity, the 50% higher risk was seen in people that had a BMI of 40 or higher--approximately 100 pounds overweight for a man and 80 pounds overweight for a woman. This survey was conducted on 10,755 Americans age 65 and above; subjects were monitored and surveyed every two years. With New Year`s rapidly approaching, make a commitment to yourself to make this the year that you get your weight healthy! It can prevent so much more than disease. To view the complete report, please visit:bit.ly/sBIBBM