Scientists at Monash University in Australia found a significant association between all-cause mortality and weight loss in older people.
Research published JAMA Network Open.
The researchers used data from 16,700 Australians aged 70 and over. Participants had no overt cardiovascular disease, dementia, disability, or life-limiting chronic disease.
Compared with men with a stable weight, men with 5% to 10% weight loss had a 33% higher risk of death from all causes, and men with more than 10% weight loss had a 289% higher risk.
Compared with women of constant weight, women who lost 5 to 10% of weight had a 26% higher risk of death from all causes, and women who lost more than 10% of weight had a 114% higher risk.
A reduction in waist circumference of more than 10% increased the risk of death from all causes by 2.14 times in men and 34% in women.
There was no significant relationship between weight gain and waist circumference and all-cause mortality. Weight loss was primarily associated with a decrease in appetite, which led to a decrease in food intake.
Researchers say weight loss may be an early indicator of the presence of several life-shortening diseases.