Why Weight Loss Is Hard After 60
Weight loss is often more challenging as you get older because your body experiences several age-related changes. One of the most important ones is sarcopenia, the gradual loss of muscle mass that occurs with age. “Muscle is the main driver of your metabolism, so when you lose it, it means that your body naturally burns fewer calories when you’re at rest,” says Wiljon Beltre, MD, a board-certified, fellowship-trained bariatric and metabolic surgeon and the founder of Beltre Bariatrics in Orlando, Florida.
Joint pain and conditions such as osteoarthritis also become more common with age and may affect your ability to exercise. When walking or other movement causes pain, staying active gets harder, Dr. Beltre says.
Many older adults take multiple medications, whether it’s to manage blood pressure, nerve pain, or diabetes, and certain drugs can contribute to weight gain or fluid retention, he notes.
Hormonal changes can also make it more challenging to lose weight. Lower testosterone levels in older men may contribute to muscle loss, while postmenopausal changes in women can affect sleep, mood, and the way the body uses and stores fat, says Eleanor Yusupov, DO, a board-certified obesity medicine physician and an assistant professor at New York Institute of Technology’s College of Osteopathic Medicine in Old Westbury.
There’s also anabolic resistance, which occurs when your muscles don’t respond as strongly to protein and exercise. As a result, an older body may have a harder time using dietary protein to build and maintain muscle, Beltre says.
For that reason, the goal of obesity management after 60 isn’t just to make the number on the scale go down. It’s to reduce excess body fat and protect muscle, bone health, and mobility. This comprehensive approach can help you stay independent, move with less pain, and keep enjoying the activities that are important to you.
