At first, we probably hardly notice it. The clothes are a little tighter or we may even have to buy one size more from one area or another but, as the years go by, and without altering our eating habits (or so we think), the waist centimeters go ascending . Poor diet, sedentary lifestyle or medication can make us gain weight, but these are the most striking:
Physical inactivity and muscle loss
The energy that the little ones have and the fact that they are practically always in motion means that they are rarely out of normal weight. Over the years, we spend more and more time sitting (studying, working) and when we reach maturity, we are much less active. This lack of physical activity leads to a loss of muscle known as sarcopenia (we lose between 3-5% of muscle mass every 10 years after the age of 30) and a consequent increase in fat.
More stress
Stress affects the body’s ability to optimize the way it processes nutrients and food, which also often leads to less healthy eating and even overeating (thereby increasing weight gain). As we get older and take on more responsibilities, tension increases and with it stress. This stress has a number of other health effects beyond weight gain such as lower immune function, high blood pressure, and increased cholesterol.
Hormonal declines
The aging process is often associated with a significant decrease in many hormones including growth hormone, estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, and the two thyroid hormones . This natural decline begins around the age of 30, and by age 65, these levels are below the lower limits of what is considered normal in young, healthy individuals. This general drop in hormones causes an increase in abdominal fat, sleep disorders, mood disorders or loss of muscle strength.
To combat this process, experts recommend taking into account a healthy lifestyle, a low-calorie but nutritious diet and moderate physical exercise.
