Narrative Review of Obesity in Aging Populations

Fabiola Mwendwa G.

 

School of Applied Health Sciences Kampala International University Uganda

ABSTRACT

Obesity in aging populations has become a pressing global public health concern as demographic shifts increase the proportion of older adults worldwide. This narrative review synthesizes current evidence on the epidemiology, mechanisms, health consequences, measurement challenges, and management of obesity among older adults. The prevalence of obesity continues to rise more rapidly in the elderly than in younger age groups, driven by globalization, lifestyle transitions, and physiological changes inherent to aging. Pathophysiological mechanisms, including metabolic dysregulation, sarcopenic obesity, chronic inflammation, and insulin resistance, interact to accelerate functional decline and biological aging, a phenomenon increasingly described as “obesageing.” Health consequences are profound, with obesity exacerbating multimorbidity, disability, cognitive impairment, frailty, and mortality. Standard obesity metrics, particularly BMI, remain inadequate for older populations due to age-related changes in body composition, necessitating improved classification systems and broader use of alternative measures such as fat mass index and muscle-based indicators. Evidence-based management options, lifestyle, pharmacologic, and surgical, demonstrate potential benefits but require cautious, individualized implementation to avoid exacerbating frailty, sarcopenia, and chronic disease. Barriers across individual, provider, and system levels continue to impede optimal treatment, highlighting the need for integrated care models, community-based solutions, and supportive policy environments. Significant research gaps persist, especially in longitudinal trajectories of aging with obesity, functional outcomes, interventional safety, and the role of emerging technologies. As the dual burden of aging and obesity intensifies globally, prioritizing geriatric-specific strategies and interdisciplinary research is essential for improving health, independence, and quality of life in older adults. Keywords: Aging populations, Sarcopenic obesity, Obes-ageing, Geriatric health, and Chronic disease risk

CITE AS: Fabiola Mwendwa G. (2026). Narrative Review of Obesity in Aging Populations. IDOSR JOURNAL OF SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH 11(1):60-64. https://doi.org/10.59298/IDOSRJSR/2026/11.1.6064