Search Weight Loss Topics:

Home » Exercise Programs » Why its harder to lose weight as you age, and what to do about it – Starts at 60

The key driver of weight loss or weight gain is energy balance. Source: Getty

Weight loss can be difficult for anyone. But if youre over 50, it can be even harder. In order to understand why, we need to delve into some basic physiology and nutritional science.

The key driver of weight loss or weight gain is energy balance. Simply put, the amount of energy in (food and beverages) versus the amount of energy out (metabolism and exercise). For example, more energy in and less energy out equals weight gain. Around 60 to 75 per cent of our energy needs are attributed to our resting metabolic rate (RMR). This is the amount of energy we need to keep our bodys basic functions working. However, as we age our metabolism slows down and instead, our fat mass increases.

Exercise and daily physical activities like walking, gardening or grocery shopping are responsible for the second-largest portion of energy expenditure. Once again though, for over-50s, these things tend to be performed with less frequency, intensity, and consistency.

When it comes to diet and nutrition, no matter how much exercise and activity you accumulate, and how much lean mass you have, if you eat and drink more calories than you burn, youll put on weight. So, in order to lose weight and maintain a healthier body composition, we need to be able to tip our energy balance the other way.

There are hundreds of nutrition and exercise programs available at the touch of a button and almost all of them work, in theory. Compliance and adherence are the things that let most of us down. This is why its so important to find a strategy that is right for you and that youre able to stick to.

As a baseline, any good weight-loss program for over-50s should contain the following:

Read the rest here:
Why its harder to lose weight as you age, and what to do about it - Starts at 60

Your Full Name
Your Email
Your Phone Number
Select your age (30+ only)	30313233343536373839404142434445464748495051525354555657585960616263646566676869707172737475767778798081828384858687888990919293949596979899100101102103104105106107108109110111112113114115116117118119120
Select Your US State	Select Your StateAlabamaAlaskaArizonaArkansasCaliforniaColoradoConnecticutDelawareFloridaGeorgiaHawaiiIdahoIllinoisIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMaineMarylandMassachusettsMichiganMinnesotaMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNevadaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNew YorkNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaOhioOklahomaOregonPennsylvaniaRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahVermontVirginiaWashingtonWashington,DCWest VirginiaWisconsinWyoming
Program Choice	Select Your ProgramInjectable HGHInjectable TestoteroneInjectable SermorelinInjectable Weight LossInjectable HCG DietInjectable Vitamins
Confirm over 30 years old	Yes
Confirm that you resident in USA	Yes
This is a Serious Inquiry	Yes
Message:

Home » Exercise Programs » Why its harder to lose weight as you age, and what to do about it – Starts at 60