Here’s Why It Gets Harder to Lose Weight As You Age – and How You Can Take Control

It finally happened.

You’re doing the same things you’ve always done in terms of what you eat and your activity levels, but it’s not as easy to keep your weight at your normal numbers. In fact, you’re even seeing the scale start to creep up.

What in the world?

Unfortunately, this is a reality for most people. As we age, we naturally tend to gain a pound or two a year. Plus, our bodies don’t respond the same way to our weight loss strategies.

Dr. James Lee and our team at Woodstock Family Practice & Urgent Care in Woodstock, Georgia, are here to help our patients achieve and maintain a healthy weight. Here’s more information about why it gets harder to lose weight as you age — and how you can take back control.

Why is it harder to lose weight as you age?

There’s not one single answer that explains why it’s harder to lose weight as you get older; it’s a mixture of factors, including metabolism, hormones, muscles, and more.

As we age, women’s estrogen levels and men’s testosterone levels tend to decrease. This drop alters the way your body functions, increasing your likelihood of gaining extra weight.

Your lean muscle mass also tends to decline as you age. The amount of growth hormone produced by your pituitary gland slows, which makes it harder for your body to build and maintain muscle. Physical conditions such as arthritis can also make you less active. 

Muscle burns more calories than fat, so when you lose muscle, you burn fewer calories than you used to, which makes weight gain more likely. Your decreased muscle mass also leads to a slower metabolism, meaning the number of calories you burn is reduced even more.

Add all of this up (plus less time to work out as your family and job take more and more time), and the pounds start to accumulate.

What can you do?

Don’t lose hope. Despite these natural changes in your body, there are several ways you can fight back.

First, focus on what you’re taking into your body. Increase your intake of natural, healthy foods, and decrease the amount of processed foods and sugar you consume. Eat more fruits, vegetables, protein, and whole foods that have a lot of fiber, and reduce your calorie intake. You should also stay well-hydrated, but stick to water or unsweetened tea instead of drinks filled with sugar, such as soda.

You also need to move your body frequently. Aim for a half-hour of aerobic exercise every day, and fight against the loss of muscle mass by incorporating strength training into your routine. More muscle helps burn more calories, which helps keep your weight in check. Getting enough protein in your diet will help build muscle too.

If you’d like professional guidance as you work to lose weight, our team at Woodstock Family Practice & Urgent Care is here to help. To schedule a consultation, call our office today or book an appointment online.