Why Does Weight Loss Become Harder as You Age?

Global weight problems have risen substantially in the past few decades, and as recently as 2022, 2.5 billion adults were considered overweight, and of that number, 890 million are obese. The struggle to lose weight has led to people trying all manner of fad diets and extreme measures to shed the pounds, with results that vary widely and leave many gaining it back.

This becomes a bigger hurdle as you get older, as you tend to keep weight or even gain it for a variety of reasons. So to better understand why the path to weight loss can be harder as you age, let’s review the health risks too much weight brings, the factors that get in the way as you get older, and what you can do to overcome them.

Dr. Shruti Patel and her dedicated medical staff at Low Cost Health Clinics want to make sure the residents of Anaheim, Riverside, Santa Ana, Corona, and Indio, California, have all the tools necessary to achieve and maintain a healthy weight.

Illnesses linked to weight

Carrying extra weight takes a toll on most parts of your body physically and increases the risk of several medical conditions. These problems include:

• Hypertension: the high cholesterol linked to weight gain, along with the stress on your body, hurts your blood pressure significantly

• Cardiovascular disease: both hypertension and high cholesterol increase the risk of heart attacks, stroke, and other heart-related problems

• Diabetes: diets high in sugar cause hyperglycemia, which, over time, can cause a person to develop diabetes

• Various cancers: breast, colon, uterine, and esophageal cancers are often linked to obesity

• Depression: metabolism changes with more weight also affect mood, leading to depression and anxiety

• Gout: a buildup of uric acid causes gout, and is frequently linked to diet

• Obstructive sleep apnea: extra weight burdens your airways with more tissue, blocking them as you sleep and causing snoring

Obstacles to weight loss as you get older

Hormones and metabolism play major roles in what happens to the body over time. We gain one or two pounds annually throughout middle age (between 40 and 65), in part due to changes in hormones (testosterone levels decline in men as they get older, and women lose a significant amount of estrogen during menopause) and a slowing metabolism during this time.

Other events are happening for many people at this point as well, like losing muscle mass, not getting as much exercise as before, and numerous lifestyle changes (starting a family, caring for aging parents).

Ways to shed some pounds

If you’re looking to stay healthy and lose some weight to prevent medical problems in later life, here are some tips:

Do more weight training

If you’re getting back in the gym to lose pounds, don’t forget to lift some weights. Cardio is important for fitness, but strength training improves metabolism, preserves muscle mass, and helps burn calories.

Ignore fad diets

You’ve no doubt heard of some new, lose-weight fast-fad diets that sound ridiculous, while others may seem more sensible and worth trying. Here’s the thing: even if some of them provide some results, they’re most often short-term and not sustainable. Let us help you develop a weight control plan that supports long-term good health.

Get proper rest

Once again, hormonal and metabolic changes come into play, as changes in these can lead to erratic sleep patterns, causing sleep deprivation and daytime drowsiness. Getting into a sleep pattern and sticking to it will help you with your weight and overall health.

Change eating habits

This isn’t just about eating healthy, though that’s very important; it’s about focusing on when you eat and how much. As you get older, your body’s slower metabolism makes it harder to maintain old habits. Try to avoid mindless snacking, eat less before going to sleep, and never eat out of boredom.

Hydrate

Water is vital to overall health, but as you age, your sense of thirst decreases. Proper hydration helps to improve metabolism and curb appetite.

Weight loss becomes more of a struggle as you get older, but it’s not impossible, and we can help. Make an appointment with Dr. Patel and Low Cost Health Clinics today to find the solution for your weight problems.