As we reach our 30's, our bodies usually need less energy, meaning we may not be able to eat the way we did in our 20's. Then, as you move past 40 and head to middle age, changes in muscle, hormones and metabolism all make it harder to stay trim. But it's not a lost cause.
Although it can be more difficult to lose weight after a person reaches 50 years of age, there are many lifestyle changes that they can make to help them reach and maintain a moderate weight. These include cooking more meals at home, cutting down on sugary drinks and snacks, and getting more exercise.
“Yes, it's definitely more difficult to lose weight as you get older,” says Kim Larson, registered dietitian and spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics. “There are so many physiological changes as you age, through your 30s, 40s, and 50s.
The finding of the study suggests that people in middle age certainly gain weight and it is harder for them to lose it, but slow metabolism is not the real reason behind it. It was revealed that from the 20s to the 50s the energy expenditure is the most stable.
“Obesity incidence starts increasing in one's twenties and peaks at 40 to 59, and then decreases slightly after age 60,” says Craig Primack, MD, an obesity medicine physician at the Scottsdale Weight Loss Center in Arizona.
The age at which maximum body fat was predicted in the various groups ranged from 53 to 61 y for fat mass and from 55 to 71 y for fat percentage.
As you get older, your metabolism starts slowing down - meaning you don't require as much energy to fuel yourself, despite still having a 25-year-old's appetite. And when your muscles can't metabolise energy efficiently, you're more likely to put on weight.
It's a question, or more likely an excuse, that comes up all the time: “Am I too old to lose weight and get in shape?” There's a short answer to this and a slightly longer one. The short answer is NO, you're never too old to get in shape.
Generally, most health experts recommend aiming for about 1–3 pounds (0.5–1.4 kg) of weight loss per week, or approximately 1% of your total body weight ( 33 , 34 ). Therefore, it may take anywhere from a few weeks to several months to lose 30 pounds safely.
"Women and men of average height need to gain or lose about three and a half and four kilograms, or about eight and nine pounds, respectively, for anyone to see it in their face.
After shedding the pounds, you might notice a smaller waist or a thinner face before the fat melts away from other stubborn areas. But one thing's for sure—losing 30 pounds or more will make a noticeable difference on pretty much anyone's frame, no matter the starting point or the goal weight.
Running is the winner for most calories burned per hour. Stationary bicycling, jogging, and swimming are excellent options as well. HIIT exercises are also great for burning calories. After a HIIT workout, your body will continue to burn calories for up to 24 hours.
A BMI of 25 to 29.9 is considered overweight. A BMI of 30 and above is considered obese. Individuals who fall into the BMI range of 25 to 34.9, and have a waist size of over 40 inches for men and 35 inches for women, are considered to be at especially high risk for health problems.
"By the time you hit 10 pounds, your jeans will feel differently, absolutely," Blum says. "Just a little looser. Theoretically, 10 pounds is considered one size." Once you get past that first couple pounds where you might not be able to tell, Blum says, you really do start to lose body fat.
Goal setting, adequate sleep, consultation with your doctor, and a detailed exercise plan will enable you to slim down in your 40s. But what you eat will have the most significant overall impact.
Reduce your intake of highly processed foods
Make a point to cut back on your consumption of ultra-processed foods, including fast food, packaged snack products, and soda. Instead, try to eat more nutrient-dense foods like fresh or frozen vegetables and fruits, beans, and nuts.
Metabolism in adulthood does not slow as commonly believed, study finds. Metabolic rate remains stable all through adult life, from age 20 to 60 years old.
Most people begin to notice a shift in the appearance of their face around their 40's and 50's, with some also noticing a change in their 30's. But with these physical changes brought on by aging also comes a change in the appearance of our face - Luckily, there is treatment available.
After age 30, people tend to lose lean tissue. Your muscles, liver, kidney, and other organs may lose some of their cells. This process of muscle loss is called atrophy. Bones may lose some of their minerals and become less dense (a condition called osteopenia in the early stages and osteoporosis in the later stages).
This is called extrinsic aging. As a result, premature aging can set in long before it was expected. In other words, your biological clock is more advanced than your chronological clock. Controllable factors such as stress, smoking and sun exposure can all play a role in expediting extrinsic aging.