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Primary care providers can share information about resources that are available to assist people with their weight management efforts. Numerous such resources are available, including online informational resources, as well as in-person and online support programs.
Some available programs focus specifically on the needs of older adults while others are intended to serve a wider audience.
Some programs are freely available while some have associated costs.
Always consider the individualized needs of the older adult when making recommendations and ensure that patients know to follow the advice of health care professionals rather than information that may not be specific to their needs. For example, patients should be educated to obtain adequate intakes of necessary nutrients rather than strictly following the advice of a weight loss program intended for the general population.
Examples of informational resources include those from GSA, which provides several educational resources about overweight and obesity.
The Obesity Action Coalition website also provides patient-focused information about treatment options for weight loss.
In addition, the National Council on Aging offers information about Obesity Care & Treatment specific to older adults, including nutritional information, fitness tips, and information about healthy aging. For older adults who are comfortable with technology, apps such as Noom, MyFitnessPal, Fitbit, and others offer nutrition and physical activity tracking and coaching; some apps have free options while others require a subscription.
Primary care providers can familiarize themselves with classes or groups in the community for older adults who are seeking in-person physical activity options. These may include local Area Agency on Aging senior centers, community centers, YMCAs, or fitness centers that offer programs and classes specifically for older adults.
Other people may prefer the convenience of accessing synchronous or asynchronous exercise programs or videos at home.
However, the number of exercise and dietary support programs online can be overwhelming. For example, there are thousands, if not millions, of exercise videos available for free on YouTube. Targeted searches, such as “low impact workout for older adults,” “yoga for weight loss,” or “exercise for sarcopenia” will return numerous options. Identifying a few programs that are appropriate for the needs of your patients can be helpful for making recommendations. To narrow available options, consider if there are video programs or instructors that you or your patients and colleagues have tried and had a good experience with.
A sampling of additional options is available in Selected Weight Management Resources for Older Adults.
When offering resources, assess whether the patient can access the resource, including issues such as:
Consider, for example, the needs of older adults who are homebound or not able to exercise outdoors because of:
Suggest strategies for how patients can customize their use of various resources based on their individualized needs. For example:
There are many other potential sources of support for weight loss.
For example, Area Agencies on Aging coordinate and offer services that help older adults maintain their independence and remain in their homes as long as possible.
Meals on Wheels America and homemaker assistance could be especially beneficial to people trying to eat a better diet.
Caregiver assistance is also available through the Area Agency on Aging. For more information, visit the Aging Resources from the Department of Health and Human Services.
In addition, people who receive care through the Veterans Health Administration, Medicare Advantage programs, or national providers such as Kaiser Permanente may have additional options for accessing weight management, dietary, and exercise services.
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