Metabolic and nutritional considerations for exercising older adults.

Age-associated declines in REE and the thermogenesis of activity result in lower energy requirements in older adults. Regular aerobic exercise and resistive exercise programs will increase ones daily energy expenditure and may preserve or increase the lean body mass which has been shown to decrease with increasing age. Further, regular resistive exercise programs may improve bone mineral density and ambulation in older adults. Normal age-associated changes in gastrointestinal function and the addition of exercise may require some modification of nutrient intake. However, in the absence of gastrointestinal disease, these modifications should not be great for healthy sedentary older adults. Protein intake should be at least 1.0 g/kg body weight for older adults especially, physically active older adults.