Those extra pounds were packed on in early adulthood: The average American gained about 17.6 pounds from their mid-20s to mid-30s, the study found. Meanwhile, the average person gained about 14.3 pounds between their 30s and 40s, 9.5 pounds between their 40s and 50s, and 4.6 pounds between their 50s and 60s.
Epidemiologists have observed that the average person typically puts on 1 to 2 pounds a year from early adulthood through middle age. The CDC's numbers show that much of the increase is concentrated in the 20s, for men and women. The average man in his 20s weighs around 185 pounds, according to the CDC.
As you age, your muscle mass decreases and your fat mass increases. Fat is less metabolically active than muscle—you don't need as many calories to maintain fat as you do to maintain muscle. Hormonal changes can also lead to weight gain.
Men tend to gain weight until age 55, and then slowly start to lose it in the years that follow. This could be because men produce less testosterone after this age. Women, on the other hand, usually stop gaining weight once they hit age 65.
Study shows that younger people and women are more likely to put on extra pounds. A study that examined the long-term weight gain of more than 13,800 U.S. adults found that on average, people gained about 17 pounds between their twenties and thirties.
"Many people in their 20s might thus notice subtle changes to how their body is shaped or rests compared to when they were in their teens," adds Dr Kennedy. "It's natural and normal to notice slight incremental weight gain as we move through the mid to late 20s."
Unintentional weight gain occurs when you put on weight without increasing your consumption of food or liquid and without decreasing your activity. This occurs when you're not trying to gain weight. It's often due to fluid retention, abnormal growths, constipation, or pregnancy.
"By staying active and sticking with smaller portions of healthy foods, you can ward off weight gain as you age," according to the NIH. All of these shifts in your routine will help your metabolism run more efficiently, but shortcuts unfortunately won't.
Many women also notice an increase in belly fat as they get older — even if they aren't gaining weight. This is likely due to a decreasing level of estrogen, which appears to influence where fat is distributed in the body.
Over time, studies have shown that metabolic rate (how fast we burn calories) starts to slow down by 2 to 3 percent each decade, beginning in our 20s. It becomes more noticeable between ages 40 and 60.
Weight gain is common as we age. As you move through your 20s on to your 30s, you may notice subtle changes in your waistline, and an increasing tendency to gain weight. We should however be mindful that metabolic rate does change as we get older because of the decline in our muscle mass.
Growth Spurt Ages and Normal Growth
Generally, girls get more curvy and boys get more muscular. The timing of weight gain is something to note as well. The growth spurt ages differ for boys and girls. During the start of puberty, around age 10 to 12, girls begin to see a lot of body changes.
Your body shape begins to change around age 30. 5 These changes occur because of a decline in muscle mass and an increase in body fat. But, getting regular exercise and eating a nutritious diet may help delay some of these age-related body changes.
The aging process brings about many changes in body composition, often without concomitant changes in body weight and body mass index (BMI) [1]. In general, as individuals age, percent body fat increases and lean mass and bone mineral density decrease.
Twin studies revealed that a person who has a BMI 4 points higher can look 2-4 years younger. The reason is that the face naturally loses fat as we get older. Features such as full lips and round cheeks are associated with youth.
You will not gain weight from eating too few calories.
There are many reasons why it can seem like under-eating can lead to weight gain. But, science has shown over and over again that this isn't physiologically possible.
To gain weight, you need to eat more calories than your body burns. Aim for 300–500 calories per day above your maintenance level for slow weight gain or 700–1,000 calories if you want to gain weight fast.
Second puberty isn't a real medical term. People use it to describe how your body changes during your 20s, 30s, and 40s. The term can be misleading, as these changes are different from puberty during adolescence. Many age-related changes are due to declining hormone levels over time.
Our Bodies Age in Three Distinct Shifts, According to More Than 4,000 Blood Tests. In terms of biological ageing, the body seems to shift gears three times during our lifespans, new research suggests – with 34 years, 60 years and 78 years the key thresholds.
What is second puberty? Second puberty isn't an official medical term. It's more like slang for significant hormonal and bodily changes women experience after “first” puberty and leading up to menopause.
Even though it's better to form healthier habits early, as the research study and patient story shows, it's never too late to make dietary changes that can lead to a healthier life.