Ask the Doctor

Age and weight loss

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I want to know why many people lose weight as they grow older.

Samson (by SMS)

 

Our muscles work hard, using up to 40% of the total energy our bodies produce. When we don’t use our muscles enough, they start to shrink to save energy. This muscle loss, known as sarcopenia, tends to speed up as we get older. By the time we hit 80, our muscles might have shrunk by a whopping 30%!

In addition, our muscles need certain nutrients to stay strong, like calcium, magnesium, and selenium. If we’re not getting enough of these nutrients or if we’re taking certain medications for a long time, like aspirin or ibuprofen, it can contribute to muscle loss. Aging can also bring about low-grade inflammation, kind of like a constant, low-level irritation in our bodies. This inflammation can interfere with how our muscles grow and repair themselves, especially if we have health conditions like arthritis or diabetes.

The best thing we can do to keep our muscles strong as we age is to keep moving! Regular exercise is like a magic potion for our muscles—it helps them grow and stay healthy, no matter our age. And remember, it’s never too late to start exercising and building muscle strength. So, let’s keep moving and stay strong, together!

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