Division of Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA.
Weight loss appears to occur frequently in older adults and has been associated with increased morbidity and mortality. However, the significance of weight loss per se and the optimal clinical approach to older outpatients who are losing weight is not completely understood. This article reviews the existing literature on weight loss in older people and outlines a basic approach for the clinician faced with the common, but often difficult, diagnostic and management issues presented by an elderly patient with weight loss.