Question

George is a 72-year old who is 6 feet tall and in excellent health overall, if just slightly overweight with a BMI of 26. He golfs with his buddies every Saturday morning, although they now take a golf cart rather than walking the course like they used to. George also swims 10 laps every day in his pool, about half of what he used to do a few years ago. George realizes that he’s a bit overweight and doesn’t like the slight bulge in his belly. He’s always consumed about 2000 kcalories per day and figures that if he foregoes his daily beer, the weight should come off just as quickly as it used to when he was younger without having to give up his “steak and potatoes” diet. After three weeks with no weight change, George is getting frustrated.

Question 1: Explain to George what happens to caloric needs during aging, including the reasons for the change. In your explanation, consider not only the general factors that affect caloric needs during aging, but also relate the changes in Gorge’s physical activity to how that affects his body composition and energy needs. You will need to defend your answer using specific facts, data, and other information drawn from the textbook and at least one other supplemental source.

Answer 1

The amount of calorie requirement depends on how physically active a person. A sedentary male over the age of 70 requires less than 2000 calories. An active male needs to consume about 2600 calories per day.

Active: Lifestyle that includes physical activity equivalent to walking more than 3miles per day at 3 to 4miles per hour, in addition to the activities of independent living.

Moderately active: Lifestyle that includes physical activity equivalent to walking about 1.5 to 3 miles per day at 3 to 4 miles per hour, in addition to the activities of independent living.

George is a moderately active person who needs to consume less than 2000 calories. George needs to walk at least 1.5 to 3 miles per day. He previously walks to the golf ground but now takes a golf cart instead of walking.

As aging, calorie requirements are decreasing unless a person is really active.

The reasons are:

· Metabolism process tends to slow with age, making it easier to add a few extra pounds and harder to lose them.

· Muscle loss is more with increasing age and people tend to become less active.

Swimming is the best method to burn the extra calories.A180 pound person swimming freestyle for one hour will burn 817 calories swimming fast, and 572 calories swimming slower.

Alcohol especially beer has more calories per ounce than carbohydrates or proteins but has no other nutritional values.

When George was younger, he walks to the golf ground and swims around 20 laps. At that time he had 2000 calories along with steaks and potatoes. Now his calorie intake is more according to his age, less physical activities, other factors.

In order to reduce his weight and BMI:

· He needs to have a balanced diet with enough protein and fewer calories.

· Avoid alcohol consumption.

· Walking and cycling like exercises.

· Swimming

· Yoga is good for old age people.