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BELLY FAT HEALTH RISKS

Age and Metabolism

Older adults are at a greater risk of gaining weight, especially around the waist for a variety of different reasons. As a person grows older, their metabolism naturally slows down. Metabolism is the function of the body that turns calories into energy. If your body burns fewer calories and you eat the same amount of food, then those unburned calories will be stored as body fat and belly fat.

Additionally, older adults may be restricted in the amount of exercise they can handle due to age-related ailments such as arthritis, osteoporosis or general low energy. Less exercise means fewer calories burned. Combined with a lower metabolism, this means belly fat can sneak up fast.

Age and Menopause

Older women have to be especially conscious of the slow creep of belly fat. Menopause causes many different chemical and hormone changes in a woman’s body, and can affect fat distribution.

While women, in general, tend to gain body fat in their thighs and hips, post-menopausal women are more likely to see fat accumulate in their bellies and upper bodies.

Since stomach fat is much more dangerous than other types of body fat, post-menopausal women may be at a higher risk of diabetes, heart disease and certain kinds of cancer if they gain a substantial amount of belly fat.

Staying Healthy with Age

All of the same healthy living advice that applies to young adults also works for older adults. Maintaining a progressive, moderate exercise routine can help keep metabolism active and burn more calories.

Mature adults, particularly the elderly, need to develop eating and exercise routines that they can accomplish in spite of age-induced limitations. If running is too difficult on knees or hips, brisk walking or swimming might be a better exercise choice.

Do not wait until you end up in the hospital to start caring about your health. If you develop healthy habits early in life, then aging gracefully is only a matter of continuing what you are already doing.

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