Weight change and the conservation of lean mass in old age: the Health, Aging and Body Composition Study

Weight loss may contribute to the loss of lean mass with age.The objective was to evaluate the relation between weight loss or weight gain and changes in lean mass and fat mass in older adults.We observed changes in weight and body composition during a 4-y period in 2163 men (47%) and women (53%) aged 70-79 y in the Health, Aging and Body Composition Study cohort. Whole-body and appendicular bone-free lean mass and fat mass were measured by...