Middle Age Weight Gain

I’m talking about a study in the January 3 issue of the American Journal of Health Promotion that, according to the someone else, showed that unless middle-aged women took a restrained approach to eating — that means that they carefully watched what they ate with an eye to preventing weight gain — they were “at risk” to gain weight.  As the someone else said it, they’re at risk to gain a “substantial amount” of weight.

Is this substantial?

• a 69% greater risk of gaining more than 2.2 pounds
• a 138% greater risk of gaining more than 6.6 pounds
• a 49% greater risk of gaining more than 1% point in overall body fat
• a 69% greater risk of gaining more than 2.2 pounds
• a 138% greater risk of gaining more than 6.6 pounds
• a 49% greater risk of gaining more than 1% point in overall body fat

What’s more, the risk remained despite adjustments for age, weight, restrained eating, caloric intake and physical activity at the start of the study, and changes in caloric intake and physical activity during the study.

The researchers concluded that women who do not become more restrained in their eating habits or become more prone to emotional eating, are likely to gain both weight and body fat over a relatively short period of time.

While these data seem counterintuitive to a healthy relationship with food, the message is clear:  because our metabolism slows in midlife, we either have to cut calories or increase physical activity (or both).

Keep in mind, however, that any major change in your diet or exercise requires a conversation with a healthcare practitioner and certified trainer to insure that you are on the right track, and not heading into the injury jungle.