Body composition and elderly

How Your Body Shape Changes With Age

We have two body shapes: the apple and the pear but both change with age and are due to two main categories: one can be controlled and one cannot be controlled. The rate of these changes is affected by lifestyle factors like diet, exercise and smoking.

Changes in body composition (muscle, fat, water and bones) occur even your total overall weight is the same?

In general the amount of fat increases with age while your muscle, lean tissues and bone density decreases with age. Natural fluid alters cells functioning. All of these changes affect your body shape.

Fat

Weight gain occurs when you simply eat more than you burn, this excess energy will be converted as fat rather than using it as fuel for your muscle. With time fat storage will lead to weight gain.

Muscles are metabolically active and burns more calories than fat tissues do so any muscle mass loss will lead to lower metabolic rate.

Considering fat percentage in women:

After menopause the drop in estrogen hormone will lead to an imbalance and increases fat storage which lead to a shift from pear shape to apple shape. Fat stored as both subcutaneous and visceral fat.

Visceral fat is linked to diabetes and heart disease.

In men:

Drop is testosterone level will lead to a change in fat distribution and hip circumference both decrease as men get older.

Visceral fat in the mid-section area can be reduced by healthy diet, exercise and weight loss.

Muscle

In healthy adults muscle mass counts for 40-50% of total weight but as we get older we become less active and then we lose muscle mass.

Muscles burns more calories so as you lose muscle you are more likely to gain weight.

In order to prevent muscle mass loss, focus of regular exercise and healthy eating patterns.

Height Loss

You may get shorter as you get older and this change is common among elderly.

Your bones make up about 20 percent of your total body weight. Due to changes in bone mass, as well as in muscles and joints, a height loss of about 0.4 inches (1 cm) every 10 years is typical. After age 70, the loss accelerates. All told, an adult can lose between one to three inches in height over their lifetime.

Bone mineral density peaks around the age of 30 and typically diminishes from there. It is a big issue in women after menopause as it increases risk of osteopenia and osteoporosis.

You can help reduce lost bone density by avoiding tobacco, consuming adequate calcium, and including weight-bearing exercises like resistance training in your activity plan.

Sources:

https://www.verywellfit.com/how-your-body-shape-changes-with-age-2223440?utm_campaign=livinghealthy&utm_medium=email&utm_source=cn_nl&utm_content=16291306&utm_term=list_gl_ot_vft-default

http://dominicanewsonline.com/news/homepage/news/study-on-ageing-and-health-in-dominica/