Why Does Weight Loss Get Harder as we Age?

If you’ve been compelled to read this article then I suspect you’ve experienced the change in metabolism that occurs as we age. At some point, it seems as if we begin to eat less to weigh more while discovering that none of our old tricks from our 20s and 30s work anymore.

While this is frustrating to experience, there are several reasons why this can occur. Once you understand why weight loss gets harder as we age, you can take the appropriate steps to safe guard yourself from this challenge.

Why Does Weight Loss Get Harder as we Age? The Metabolism

Our metabolism controls how well our cells can turn fuel (food) into energy. There are a number of factors that can impair our metabolic function including stress, nutrient deficiencies, hormone imbalance (although, this is actually the result of impaired metabolic function) and certain medications and supplements.

Impaired metabolic function can feel like:

– Fatigue
– Weight gain, especially through the mid section
– Brain fog
– Irritability, anxiety, depression
– Difficult periods, PMS or a challenging transition to menopause
– Gut issues, bloating, indigestion, constipation
– Sleep issues, waking between 2-4am

The following points are some of the most common factors that can have a negative impact on metabolic function and your ability to achieve and maintain a healthy weight.

Why Does Weight Loss Get Harder as we Age? Muscle Loss

From the age of 30, we lose approximately 3-8% of our muscle mass each decade. Add inactivity and restrictive dieting into the mix and we can expect this number to be far higher.

In order to maintain muscle mass we need:

– Optimal digestion
– Optimal protein intake
– Resistance training 3 x per week
– Deliberate movement daily e.g. 15 minute walk, 10 minutes of rebounding, etc

Muscle is what we call metabolically supportive tissue. It helps to keep your cells sensitive to insulin (preventing insulin resistance which is a common cause of weight gain) while also helping your body to burn more calories at rest, essentially raising your resting metabolic rate. Learn more about How to Lose Weight With Insulin Resistance

Maintaining optimal muscle mass can help to prevent injury, increase energy levels and improve mood, all of which indirectly impact out ability to maintain a healthy weight.

Why Does Weight Loss Get Harder as we Age? Chronic Stress

Chronic stress has a negative impact on almost every aspect of our health due to the way it impairs metabolic function.

Chronic stress affects gut health, thyroid function, hormone health, muscle maintenance, mental health, sleep and our ability to achieve and maintain a healthy weight.

As we go through life, many of us tend to adapt to how stressed we are, we accept that it is normal to feel overburdened by life, our jobs and whatever else we have going on. In addition to normalising excessive and chronic stress, we also struggle to make time to do things that bring us joy.

If the general stress of day to day life wasn’t enough, there are many physical stressors that can have an impact on our health and ability to lose weight. These physical stressors include: a sedentary lifestyle, overexposure to blue light (screens), under exposure to sun light, drinking too much alcohol and not eating enough protein or nutrients in general.

There are several more physical stressors that make it difficult for the body to release weight but these are some of the common ones I see on a regular basis.

Learn more about the connection between Stress and Stubborn Weight Gain.

Why Does Weight Loss Get Harder as we Age? Changing Hormones

As women, as we age, our hormones naturally change in preparation for menopause. These changes start in our mid 30’s.

The primary change noticed during this stage of life is a drop in progesterone. While estrogen can also drop during this time, it is more common to see the pattern of estrogen dominance which can leave us with symptoms like:

– Fluid retention
– Hot flushes, night sweats
– Heavy periods, painful periods, fibroids
– Emotional eating, cravings for sweets
– Stubborn weight gain through the mid section and lower body

In addition to changes with estrogen and progesterone, as we age we are at greater risk of developing insulin resistance, leptin resistance, thyroid dysfunction and other metabolic challenges that prevent weight loss.

Insulin resistance in particular is a major challenge that I see holding many women back from achieving and maintaining their ideal weight.

Unfortunately, as we age, we notice many symptoms of hormone imbalance developing. At this point, many women seek blood tests to confirm their suspicion, only to be told that everything looks good. While this can be frustrating, it is important to know that your naturopathic practitioner uses functional ranges rather than standard ranges to interpret your blood results. We also carefully consider your symptoms and provide support to resolve symptoms regardless of how mild or severe your blood markers may be.

Learn more about Blood Work for Weight Loss

Why Does Weight Loss Get Harder as we Age? Medications & Supplements

As we age, we are more likely to turn to prescription medication as a way to manage our health challenges. While some medications can be avoided by making specific health changes, some cannot, and everyone has the right to choose how they will manage their health concerns.

Certain medications like stomach acid lowering medication, antidepressants, antihistamines and statins do impact our ability to lose weight. The interference with the metabolism may not be noticed for several years as the effects can be subtle but compounding.

If you are on one of the many medications that are known to cause weight gain or impair weight loss, you may like to explore other options. If no other options are available, you may need to accept that weight loss will be slower than it has been in the past but you can still get the success and results you desire with consistency and perseverance.

While supplements are generally harmless, self prescribing over the counter supplements and using the same supplements long term without a reassessment can create mineral imbalances, gut health issues and other challenges that may impact your ability to lose weight.

When it comes to supplements remember, less is more, they should only be used to supplement and already healthy diet and lifestyle and although supplements are considered safe, it is best to seek advice from a qualified naturopath before self prescribing.

If you are ready to take back control of your health, here are 3 ways working with a weight loss naturopath can help:

1. Work with me! Book a consultation in person (Evandale, SA) or AUS + NZ wide online via Zoom

2. Listen to the Holistic Weight Loss Podcast

3. Connect with me on Instagram | Pinterest | YouTube | LinkedIn | Facebook