Yes, Lose Weight After 60 Is Real! Here are 7 Tips to Help You

Losing weight can be harder than ever after the age of 60. The aches and pains associated with getting older can make exercise difficult. Also, older adults often feel hopeless concerning weight loss. Cardiovascular exercise can be more difficult due to a lowered oxygen intake, and arthritis pain can make exercise uncomfortable.

It is important for every person, regardless of age, to be a healthy weight. Oddly enough, weight loss has been discouraged to those over age 60. This is mostly due to concerns about bone loss. Some also worry about weight loss causing muscle reduction known as sarcopenia. Dr. Kristen Beavers led a study at Wake Forest that focused on overweight adults over the age of 60. This study found that weight loss and exercise can still lower the risk of health problems in older adults.

Tip One: Drink Water

Many older adults avoid drinking water because they believe they will need to use the bathroom more frequently. However, if you want to lose weight, you must drink more water. The body can mistake thirst for hunger, and you may eat more as a result. Water aids in proper digestion, and hydrating yourself can keep you from overeating. A study approved by the Institutional Review Board of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University found that men and women between the ages of 55 and 75 lost more weight when they drank more water.

Tip Two: Strength Train

Once you reach age 50, you have lost around 20% of your total muscle mass. Because muscle burns energy and fat, a loss of muscle leads to weight gain. The good news is that it isn’t impossible to gain muscle as you age. A study published in Medicine & Science in Sports and Exercise showed that older women need to lift weights more than their younger counterparts to build muscle. However, it was still possible to build lean muscle mass.

Tip Three: Focus on Fat Loss