Many people who did not gain weight despite eating the food they wanted in their twenties and thirties, find that after the age of 40, they gain weight rapidly and have a protruding belly, even if they do not eat much. There are also many who complain that they do not lose weight despite dieting. This is due to some natural biological changes that occur in our body after the age of 40. Here are the 5 main scientific reasons behind this:
Slower Metabolism: After the age of 40, the body’s metabolism naturally starts to decrease. That is, the body is no longer able to produce energy from the food we ate as quickly as it used to. Therefore, if we eat the same amount of food as before even after 40, the body will start storing it as fat rapidly.
Decreased Muscle Mass (Sarcopenia): As we age, the muscle mass in the body naturally decreases. This is called sarcopenia. Muscles burn the most calories in our body. When muscle mass decreases, the amount of calories the body burns also decreases. In those who do not exercise, fat accumulates instead of these muscles.
Hormonal Changes: After 40, there is a big change in hormones in both women and men. During this time, when women are approaching menopause (Perimenopause), the hormone estrogen decreases. This can cause fat to concentrate in the abdomen (Visceral Fat). In men, the hormone testosterone, which helps in losing weight, decreases and causes fat to increase.
Insulin resistance increases: As we age, our cells become less able to absorb glucose from the blood. This is called insulin resistance. When we eat carbohydrate foods containing rice and sweets, the body produces more insulin, which causes fat to accumulate rapidly around the abdomen.
Stress and Thyroid Changes: In the 40s, there is a lot of stress due to increased family and work responsibilities. The stress hormone cortisol is one of the factors that causes the body to store fat. Also, hypothyroidism, which is common in many people at this age, is a major factor in weight gain.
