Calorie Intake and Age
Slow weight gain is perfectly
normal as we age. The principle reason for this age related weight gain
is a decline in lean muscle mass due to inactivity and the aging process.
This loss of lean muscle causes a slow down in our metabolic rate - the
rate at which we burn calories. For example, between the ages of 30 and
70 muscle mass typically decreases by an average of about 30 per cent
in most people.
Age-Related Weight Gain
The above reduction in muscle
mass typically leads to a weight gain of about 5 pounds per decade (men)
or 3.5 pounds per decade (women).
Reduce Calories with Age
To counteract this age related
weight gain we need to reduce our calorie intake (by about 100 calories
a day per decade) or increase our calorie expenditure (by about 100 calories
a day per decade - the equivalent of a brisk one mile walk).
Note:
Hormonal changes (e.g. thryoid function, adrenal function) may also slow
down our metabolic rate.
For calorie details of 2500
Foods, see Calories
in Foods
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