Aging, weight increase, and the dreaded scale
22 Sep 2021
Our bodies do not respond the same way to weight loss attempts as they did when we were younger. Because body weight is strongly influenced by genetics, physical activity level, and nutritional choices, not everyone will become overweight as they age; nonetheless, the majority of us will find it more difficult to maintain or lower weight.
lets find out why and how to fight this battle?
After the age of 30, our bodies lose 3 to 8% of their lean muscle mass due to sarcopenia, age-related health problems, and inactivity.
That loss of muscle mass will most likely lower your metabolism, which is a complicated mechanism that turns calories into energy. Calorie burning is reduced when there is more fat and less muscle.Lean muscle burns more calories than fat. As a result, unless you consistently strength train with weights to maintain and grow muscle, your body will require less calories each day. If you continue to consume the same number of calories as you did when you were younger, you will most likely acquire weight.
Hormonal changes that both men and women experience as part of the normal aging process. For women, menopause — which typically happens between the ages of 45 and 55 — results in a considerable reduction in estrogen. For men, it is the steady fall in testerone levels that begins around the age of 40.
A decrease in oestrogen levels causes the body to store more fat, particularly around the belly, while a decrease in testosterone, which assists in controlling fat distribution and muscle strength, causes the body to be less successful in fat burning.
Furthermore, as people age, they become less active, which lowers their metabolism.
The secret to fighting these changes is simple: be more active, exercise more, strength train, eat healthier, reduce your portion size, keep hydrated, relax, and get a good night's sleep.