Why Do We Gain Weight Faster As We Get Older?
We feel your pain, and the answer may shock you.
Keeping weight in check becomes more challenging with age, and Karolinska Institutet's recent research helps explain why. The study reveals that lipid turnover in fat tissue decreases during aging, making weight gain easier, even without changes in diet or exercise. Published in Nature Medicine, the study tracked 54 individuals over 13 years, finding a consistent decrease in lipid turnover for all, resulting in a 20% weight gain for those who didn't adjust their calorie intake. This discovery, independent of lifestyle factors, sheds light on how our bodies regulate weight changes as we age.
The research, conducted in collaboration with Uppsala University in Sweden and the University of Lyon in France, extends its insights to bariatric surgery. Analyzing lipid turnover in 41 women post-surgery, the study indicates that those with a low turnover rate before the surgery were more successful in maintaining weight loss over the following four to seven years. This suggests that individuals with room for improvement in lipid turnover may benefit more from surgical interventions.
Professor Peter Arner, a key author of the study, emphasizes the groundbreaking nature of the results, highlighting that fat tissue processes independently regulate age-related weight changes. The findings open up new possibilities for treating obesity by understanding the underlying mechanisms in fat tissue. The research also aligns with prior studies, emphasizing the role of increased physical activity in speeding up lipid turnover. Combining exercise with weight-loss efforts, as indicated by the study, may enhance long-term outcomes. Senior researcher Kirsty Spalding underscores the global significance of comprehending lipid dynamics in addressing the widespread challenges of obesity and related diseases. The study received support from various organizations, reflecting the collective effort in advancing obesity research.