Why weight loss gets difficult after 40: Challenges and ways to overcome it

How often have you heard people, especially those above 40 years of age, saying that they are unable to lose weight despite trying a number of weight loss techniques.

Very often.

Several times people blame their age for weight gain. "It doesn't happen after a certain age," many say when they are asked to shed some extra kilos. While being overweight carries a number of medical complications, living with the imagination that older age is a controlling factor in weight loss worsens biological well being during later years.

Also Read: The ideal gap between two meals to lose weight

Also Read: Hing water for weight loss, Know how it works and things to consider

"Obese patients over the age of 60 can lose an equivalent amount of weight as younger people using only lifestyle changes," says a 2020 study from the University of Warwick and University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire (UHCW) NHS Trust and reported in the journal Clinical Endocrinology.

However, with growing age the body composition changes a lot. The age-related changes in body composition decides the overall health in later life.

Therefore, in order to lose weight after a certain age, one should revise the weight loss techniques. In order to lose weight one should understand what works and what doesn’t.

It is usually seen that people gain weight after their 30s and 40s. This is because the lean muscles of the human body begin to decline during midlife. Lean muscles burn calories. So with the less lean muscle in the body, the amount of calorie that is taken by an individual doesn’t get used and adds to the weight. Therefore after a certain age, if one does not watch the amount of calories taken in a day there is a greater chance of putting on weight.

Less physical activity also contributes to a gain in the body weight. As less calories are burnt the human body slows down. In addition to this, psychologically people get into the habit of not doing enough physical work after 35. After mid-age people tend to adapt to a sedentary lifestyle as if old age is just meant for sitting on desks.

Stress is also another major reason behind the increase in body weight during later ages. With growing age the overall mental health tends to deteriorate partly due to lifestyle and dietary habits and partly due to environmental, biological, social and several other factors. Stress affects the agility of a human being rendering him or her to be less active.

Also Read: Five types of body fat

Also Read: Habits that could give you belly fat

Watch your calories after you cross your 30s. As said before, the deterioration of lean muscles has a tremendous effect on body weight. One should cut down the calories and focus more on eating more fibers and antioxidant rich food.

Experts say, the key to a healthy body lies in knowing what to eat and when to eat.

• Do not satiate your morning hunger with unhealthy processed foods.
• Do not skip having healthy breakfast.
• Do not forget to drink atleast 7-8 glasses of water everyday.
• Do not skip small meals in between main meals.
• Do not eat heavy during night
• Do not consume sugar-sweetened coffee, tea, soft drinks, or energy drinks in excess
• Do not skip exercise. Old age is not an excuse to skip exercise.

Also Read: Try this concoction to battle bloating and get a flat belly