By: Jennifer Ellis, FNP-C

For many people, shedding those excess pounds just seems to be a harder thing to accomplish as we get older. There are certainly a variety of factors at play here, but there are several common factors that will affect many of us.

• Hormonal changes: Hormonal fluctuations, including the onset of the menopause transition in middle age can cause overall weight gain, especially in abdominal visceral fat. This is likely due to a decrease in estrogen.

• Muscle mass changes: Unfortunately as we age we may start to lose muscle mass and overall strength. This can also be attributed to a lack of estrogen and a decrease in testosterone. 

• Decreased metabolism: Our metabolic rate decreases as we age, partially from the muscle mass changes we see in middle age. Of course the more muscle we have, the more fat we will burn at rest. 

• Lifestyle factors: Surely lifestyle plays a part in our difficulties losing weight as we age. A sedentary lifestyle is more common in older adults. Many older adults may adopt a poor diet with less protein and nutrients, but with more processed foods. 

• Make sure you have seen your medical provider and ruled out other potential causes of weight gain such as thyroid disorders, adrenal problems, insulin resistance and more. Also, ask your medical provider if weight gain is a side effect of any medication you are taking and if so, if there is a suitable alternative you could try.

Weight gain in middle age may be an unfortunate common occurrence, but there are certainly plenty of things we can do that can help! 

See article: Weight Loss Strategies For Midlife