SLOW, SUBTLE WEIGHT GAIN IS COMMON AS WE AGE, influenced by a number of factors including genetics, poor sleep, stress, and the loss of muscle mass that typically occurs with every decade. "Most of us do tend to gain weight as we get older," says Lawrence Cheskin, M.D., professor and chair of the department of nutrition and food studies at George Mason University and coauthor of Weight Loss for Life: The Proven Plan for Success. "But forget about how much you weighed years ago. The question is, what's a reasonable weight for you now?" In fact, weight doesn't tell the whole story of your health. There's also the percentage of fat, bone, and muscle in your body. "What's important is to maintain muscle and bone mass," says Nikhil Dhurandhar, Ph.D., past president of the Obesity Society and chairman of the department of nutritional sciences and Helen Devitt Jones Endowed Professor at Texas Tech University. And, he adds, if you need to shed pounds for your health, focus on fat loss, not weight loss.
Where excess fatty tissue is distributed also matters, says Dr. Cheskin. Fat around your middle is riskier: Visceral fat, which surrounds organs such as the kidneys and the spleen, produces chemicals that damage blood vessels, influence blood sugar levels, and increase the risk of conditions such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease. If you store fat around your belly, it's particularly important to maintain a healthy weight.
SETTING THE RIGHT HEALTH GOALS
Healthy bodies come in different sizes, so you and your doc should discuss your objectives. "If you're dealing with rising blood sugar or blood pressure, these things are fixable," says Dr. Cheskin. For instance, you don't have to fit into the pants you wore before you had kids, but you can discuss what amount of weight loss would help you achieve your goal of lowering your blood pressure.
This story is from the February 2023 edition of Prevention US.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the February 2023 edition of Prevention US.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
5 Myths About Cancer
The "C" word is scary enough without misinformation making things worse. Here are a few "I've heards" that you don't need to listen to anymore.
EAT FOR STRONG BONES
The right mix of nutrients helps support a sturdy skeleton.
THE DOCTOR IS IN When UTIS Keep Coming Back
Recurrent UTIs hit women more often than men— here’s what does and doesn’t work to prevent them.
Why Did I Feel as if I Had the Flu for Years?
Some days she just couldn’t get out of bed. It took some 10 doctors to figure out why.
Make Your Everyday Life Easier
Light weights are your ticket to a stronger core, which you need to lift, balance, and move with confidence.
WHAT'S YOUR ATTACHMENT STYLE?
LEARN ABOUT YOURSELF TO CONNECT MORE WITH OTHERS.
Stretch Away BACK PAIN
STRETCHING IS A POWERFUL PAINKILLER. All your muscles, bones, and tendons are connected, so pain mama in one body part can affect another. With stretching, you can loosen multiple areas at once. Try these backcentric moves from Prevention’s Stretch Away Pain.
Your Over-the-Counter PAIN DRUG GUIDE
IF NON-PHARMACEUTICAL TREATMENTS like ice and heat aren't helping enough, there are over-the-counter meds that can bring relief, but they're not interchangeable.
"Oh, my ACHING..."
JUST GOING ABOUT OUR LIVES can bring on pain in three areas of the body in particular: the back, the neck, and the knees.
Hope for CHRONIC PAIN sufferers
AN ACHY BACK AFTER A NIGHT ON A SOFA BED is one thing, but some pain persists long after you're technically healed.