Q: Which doctor should I consult for sarcopenia?
A: A General Practitioner can be consulted initially. A physiotherapist, nutritionist and other specialist doctors can be consulted later on depending on one’s medical condition.
Q: Why do we lose muscle mass as we age?
A: We lose muscle mass as we age because the bodies of older people build muscle from food less efficiently than young people. Also the muscles of the older people are not able to use insulin as efficiently as younger people’s muscles. Also, the blood flow in the leg is comparatively lesser in the older people due to which the supply rate of nutrients and hormones is lower. This further contributes to muscle mass loss.
Q: Why do we gain weight as we age?
A: The body’s metabolic rate decreases about 1% per year starting around 30 years of age. Physical inactivity, stress and decrease in hormonal levels as we age lead to weight gain.
Q: What is high protein diet?
A: Researchers define a high-protein diet as one where at least 20% of the calories consumed come from protein.
Q: Is high protein diet harmful in old age?
A: In those aged 65 years and above, high protein intake was linked to a 60% reduced risk of dying from cancer and a 28% reduced risk of dying from disease. However, plant-based protein diet is preferable to animal based protein. In those aged 50 to 60 years high animal based protein diet has been linked to cancer and diabetes.
