Is there a medical reason why people are more likely to put on weight in middle-age.?
There are a number of theories. The first is that as people age, they become less active and lose lean body mass. This loss of muscle then reduces their metabolism, which combined with a sloppy diet can add body fat. There is some debate around whether this is actually why people seem to need less calories as they age, especially after age 40. It may not actually be a foregone conclusion that your metabolism will slow in middle age, it may just be your body composition and exercise habits. In other words, you can influence it. As people age, they experience a loss of muscle mass, also known as “sarcopenia.” This typically begins around age 50, but increases dramatically after age 60. Scientists don’t completely understand the mechanisms behind this rapid loss of muscle mass, but there are likely several factors at play, including decreased testosterone, growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor-1 levels; increases in catabolic compounds; as well as muscle wasting from the reduction
