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John Wilson is a 74-year-old retired schoolteacher.He is 5'8" tall and weighs 136 pounds.His wife died nine months ago.During a routine visit to the doctor, it was noted that his weight had decreased 21 pounds since his visit a year ago.Mr.Wilson does not have any medical problems, though he does report feeling depressed and lonely.The physician ordered a panel of lab tests including albumin and transferrin.His albumin level was low, and his transferrin level was elevated.
-The most likely cause of Mr.Wilson's weight loss is:

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Case Study Questions
Use the following case study to answer questions 
John Wilson is a 74-year-old retired schoolteacher.He is 5'8" tall and weighs 136 pounds.His wife died nine months ago.During a routine visit to the doctor, it was noted that his weight had decreased 21 pounds since his visit a year ago.Mr.Wilson does not have any medical problems, though he does report feeling depressed and lonely.The physician ordered a panel of lab tests including albumin and transferrin.His albumin level was low, and his transferrin level was elevated.
-The most likely cause of Mr.Wilson's weight loss is:

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Mr. Wilson reports feeling depressed and lonely after the loss of his wife. Depression is a common cause of unintentional weight loss in older adults. The lab results showing a low albumin level and elevated transferrin level suggest malnutrition due to poor intake of essential nutrients. Inadequate income and lack of knowledge about nutrition may also contribute to malnutrition, but the primary reason for Mr. Wilson's weight loss is likely his depression. A high level of physical activity is unlikely to be the cause of his weight loss as he is a retired schoolteacher and presumably not engaging in strenuous physical activity.

Case Study Questions Use the Following Case Study to Answer Questions