QLexNursing

🔶 In middle adulthood, women often experience an increase in body fat composition, especially central (abdominal) fat, partially due to hormonal changes.

🔶 Metabolism slows and lean body mass decreases with age, which shifts the body composition toward relatively more fat even if weight is stable.

🔶 This change in body composition means middle-aged adults need to monitor kilocalorie intake and engage in regular physical activity to prevent weight gain.

🔶 Increased body fat, particularly visceral fat, raises the risk for cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and other chronic conditions.

🔶 Nurses should emphasize balanced nutrition, portion control, and exercise to help middle-aged women manage body fat increases and maintain health.

Iron requirements for women increase from 18 to 28 grams

🔶 Iron requirements are measured in milligrams (mg), not grams (g), so “28 grams” is an extremely incorrect and dangerous value.

🔶 After menopause, women’s iron needs usually decrease because they no longer lose blood via menstruation, not increase dramatically

Daily energy needs for men increase to 2,900 kilocalories

🔶 In middle adulthood, energy needs typically decrease due to a lower basal metabolic rate and often reduced physical activity.

🔶 Advising higher kilocalorie intake could promote weight gain rather than help maintain a healthy body weight.

Kilocalorie needs increase to build more lean body mass

🔶 Without targeted resistance exercise, lean body mass decreases in middle age; kilocalorie needs do not automatically increase.

🔶 Suggesting that kilocalories must increase to build lean mass is misleading and can lead to excess adipose tissue if activity is not adjusted.