Question

Older adults require less calories than younger people because they:

1) burn less calories when they exercise
2) lose height due to osteoporosis
3) increase their fat deposits at the expense of muscle tissues
4) eat more sweets which are rapidly converted to fat

Answer 1

Older adults need fewer calories due to a reduced metabolic rate caused by muscle mass loss with age, which decreases physical activity and further lowers metabolism.

Step-by-step explanation:

Older adults require fewer calories than younger people mainly due to a decrease in their body's metabolic rate, which declines nearly 2 percent per decade after age 30. This change is largely brought about by a reduction in lean muscle mass.

As muscle mass decreases, strength is reduced, limiting the amount of physical activity seniors might engage in. This can lead to a positive-feedback system whereby reduced physical activity promotes further muscle loss and a subsequent decrease in metabolism. Therefore, older adults increase their fat deposits at the expense of muscle tissues. It should be noted, however, that nutrition and diet choices also play significant roles in an individual's metabolic rate and overall body composition.