Failure To Thrive in Older Adults
Authors: Catherine A. Sarkisian, Mark S. Lachs
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (1997)

Letters15 April 1997Failure To Thrive in Older AdultsChristopher D. Still, MS, DO, Caroline M. Apovian, MD, and Gordon L. Jensen, MD, PhDChristopher D. Still, MS, DOGeisinger Medical Center, Danville, PA 17822Search for more papers by this author, Caroline M. Apovian, MDGeisinger Medical Center, Danville, PA 17822Search for more papers by this author, and Gordon L. Jensen, MD, PhDGeisinger Medical Center, Danville, PA 17822Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-126-8-199704150-00035 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail TO THE EDITOR:In their recent article, Sarkisian and Lachs [1] provided an insightful perspective on the limitations of “failure to thrive” as a disease construct in older persons. The definition of the failure to thrive syndrome has traditionally been an unexplained decline in function, structure, or metabolic process in excess of that expected for an age-matched cohort. Common contributor domains include impaired physical function, malnutrition, depression, and cognitive impairment [1]. Unexplained weight loss is common; a stereotypical picture of frail, undernourished persons most often comes to mind.At the other end of the malnutrition spectrum, the overnourished morbidly obese ...References1. Sarkisian CA, Lachs MS. “Failure to thrive” in older adults. Ann Intern Med. 1996; 124:1072-8. Google Scholar2. Kuczmarski RJ, Flegal KM, Campbell SM, Johnson CL. Increasing prevalence of overweight among US adults. JAMA. 1994; 272:205-11. Google Scholar3. Galanos AN, Pieper CF, Coroni-Huntley JC, Bales CW, Fillenbaum GG. Nutrition and function: is there a relationship between body mass index and functional capabilities of community-dwelling elderly? J Am Geriatr Soc. 1994; 42:368-73. Google Scholar4. Apovian CM, Frey CM, Rogers JZ, McDermott B, Jensen GL. Body mass index and physical function in obese older women. J Am Geriatr Soc. 1996; 44:1487-8. Google Scholar5. Felson DT. Weight and osteoarthritis. Am J Clin Nutr. 1996; 63(Suppl): 430S-2S. Google Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAuthors: Christopher D. Still, MS, DO; Caroline M. Apovian, MD; Gordon L. Jensen, MD, PhDAffiliations: Geisinger Medical Center, Danville, PA 17822 PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Metrics Cited byAge ≥50 Does Not Influence Outcome in Laparoscopic Gastric BandingMini nutritional assessment in the elderly: living alone, with family and nursing home in TurkeyObesity and Functional Decline: Epidemiology and Geriatric ConsequencesBody Mass Index and Physical Function in Older WomenResolution of chronic medical conditions after laparoscopic adjustable silicone gastric banding for the treatment of morbid obesity in the elderlyNutritional assessment in the elderly: facing up to the challenges of developing new tools for clinical assessmentNutrition and agingObesity in Older Persons 15 April 1997Volume 126, Issue 8Page: 668KeywordsElderlyMalnutritionMetabolic processesObesityOverweightPhysical functioningSleep apneaStable coronary artery diseaseType 2 diabetesWeight loss ePublished: 15 August 2000 Issue Published: 15 April 1997 Copyright & PermissionsCopyright © 1997 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF downloadLoading ...