Managing body weight is a top concern for many aging adults. Physiological changes contribute to altering body composition with age. Those changes are accelerated by an environment that encourages overeating and a sedentary lifestyle. For example, portion sizes have significantly increased, and we are encouraged to eat for recreation and emotional comfort.
Additionally, today’s lifestyle provides increased opportunity for more sitting and less doing. More time is spent sitting in front of a phone, computer, or TV screen, sitting at a restaurant or coffee shop, and sitting in the car. Some of this can be attributed to modern lifestyle changes. A person’s health can also contribute to decreased activity. Having more weight to carry around can make the thought of being more active during the day exhausting. Managing a chronic condition or pain can also contribute to less overall daily activity.
Changes in body composition and weight may be inevitable with age, but control is within reach through changes in food choices and exercise habits. Rather than focusing specifically on the scale, many find greater success focusing on what they can do to improve their health. While it is important for SilverSneakers instructors to stay within an appropriate scope of practice, we can be a positive influence in empowering our class participants to make small changes that add up to big results.
Key topics include:
- Understanding the risks for malnutrition in older years
- Reading nutrition labels
- Eating healthy on a budget
- Tips to encourage small, healthy changes