Having excess body fat is not a good thing for any individual, regardless of gender or age. It comes with a slew of risks for other conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, blood pressure, high cholesterol, arthritis, and even poor circulation. Now, thanks to findings that have been revealed by a new study, it turns out seniors are at twice the risk of these conditions — and more — thanks to excess body fat.
The study, which is out of Wake Forest University School of Medicine, has found that since people tend to gain weight during middle age right up until their 80s, due to the obesity epidemic that is occurring across North America, many individuals are starting into their mature years fatter, earlier.
This is a very troubling finding, as along with the myriad conditions that obesity contributes to, it also means that seniors — who are already at risk of developing various health concerns — now have to face a whole onslaught of conditions that could have been prevented if they had not taken on the extra weight and a sedentary lifestyle.
In the study, researchers looked at how body composition altered over time in the body, as related to the natural aging process. They looked at actual body fat in order to determine the ratio of fat to lean mass in the body by using a method known as “dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry” or DXEA for short. The study included 1,786 “well- functioning” older individuals from various parts of the U.S.
Between 1997 and 2003, the researchers took measurements from the participants, who were between 70 and 79 at the start of the trial, to see what the ratio of fat to muscle was. What the researchers found was that up until 80, the majority of participants gained fat but lost muscle mass. This is problematic, as less muscle and more body fat contributes directly to disability, according to the researchers. The study was published in the recent issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
According to Dr. Jingzhong Ding, MD, the lead researcher of the study, “The combined effects of aging and the obesity epidemic results in bigger body size and less lean mass among the elderly. This may lead to disability and other illnesses in the elderly and could be dramatic in the coming years. It points out the great public health importance of developing appropriate interventions that target fat loss while preserving skeletal muscle to prevent disability and other obesity-related illnesses.”
If you are approaching your senior years, know that it is vitally important that you stay active, eat a healthy and well-balanced diet, and ensure you are going to your annual physical. Being overweight or obese will only lead to myriad health concerns in your later years, which you should be enjoying in good health, instead of in pain.
Be proactive and take control of your weight right now. Start exercising, check out what your local fitness or community center offers, and speak to your doctor about how he/she can help you establish healthy eating habits.
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Tags: Arthritis, obesity
