Keeping your weight within a healthy range is essential for overall fitness and well-being. But for the elderly, this can sometimes be more challenging, incredibly if they have limited mobility.

This can be very worrying if you have an elderly loved one who is required to lose weight by their GP to help with or prevent a health condition, such as a heart problem. 

With this in mind, Stewart Mcginn, managing director at Baycroft Care Homes, advises several changes your elderly family member or friend can make to lose weight, alongside some more accessible ways to exercise. 

Chair exercises

If your senior family member struggles to walk or stand for long periods, there are a range of seated exercises they can complete from the comfort of their chair. 

While these exercises are only light on the body, they will still increase strength and flexibility, encouraging blood flow around the body. 

If you are looking for an excellent place to start with chair exercises, the British Heart Foundation has recommended five easy ways.

A healthy diet

A calorie-controlled, balanced diet can be a crucial factor to help with achieving weight loss results in less mobile individuals. 

You might have been advised about how many calories your elderly family member should be consuming at their GP nutritionist. To make this achievable, you should consider a range of things. 

Try helping them to create meals that are high in protein and filled with high-volume, low-calorie foods like salad and vegetables that will keep them fuller for longer.  Also, try to reduce the number of empty calories they consume, which can be done by swapping out sugar for a more calorie-friendly alternative, such as sweetener in hot drinks.

Drink plenty of water

Ensuring your elderly relative or loved one drinks plenty of water is another excellent way to aid weight loss for various reasons.

• Firstly, water suppresses the appetite by filling the stomach and helping your family member feel fuller for longer.
• Secondly, drinking enough water can boost metabolism, helping to burn more calories and fat. 
• Thirdly, when people often feel hungry and reach for a snack, clinical studies have shown that it can be your body telling you you’re thirsty and the water you need.

Low-impact exercise

Suppose your elderly relative cannot undergo any exercise that puts pressure on their joints. In that case, various low-impact exercises, such as light swimming or aqua aerobics, are available for extra fun.

The low-impact activity can benefit your elderly loved one in several ways, including increasing flexibility, counting as a cardiovascular exercise, reducing arthritis and preventing muscle and bone loss. All while avoiding injury.