New Study Shows That Maintaining Weight Could Improve Chances of Reaching 90 and Beyond
As many women strive to shed a few pounds, a recent study suggests that maintaining a stable weight in later life could increase the likelihood of living past 100. The study analyzed more than 50,000 women over the age of 60 and compared those who maintained their weight over a three-year period to those who lost at least 5% of their body weight.
Surprisingly, the women who lost weight were found to be 38% less likely to reach their 100th birthday. Additionally, they were 33% less likely to make it to the age of 90 and 35% less likely to survive until 95. This was especially true for those who unintentionally lost weight, as it may indicate underlying health issues, stress, or frailty.
Interestingly, the study also revealed that women who gained more than 5% of their body weight did not have a higher or lower likelihood of living until the age of 90 or beyond. This could be due to the fact that weight gain during middle age or earlier is more likely to decrease life expectancy.
Dr. Aladdin Shadyab, the author of the study from the University of California San Diego, emphasized the importance of maintaining a stable weight for longevity in older women. He mentioned that unintentional weight loss in aging women could serve as a warning sign of poor health and potentially predict decreased longevity.
The research analyzed a total of 54,437 women aged 61 to 81 who participated in a large US health study. Of these women, just over half survived until the age of 90, with approximately 9% reaching the impressive milestone of turning 100.
The study found that women who gained or lost no more than 5% of their body weight over the course of three years were up to twice as likely to live until 90 and beyond. Moreover, it suggested that unintentional weight loss of more than 5% had the most significant impact on life expectancy for women over 60.
Among those who unintentionally lost weight, about a third attributed it to illness, while nearly 29% experienced a decreased appetite, and 23% blamed stress. These unintentional weight loss individuals were found to be 51% less likely to reach the age of 90. On the other hand, women who lost weight intentionally, typically through diet or exercise changes, were only 17% less likely to reach this age milestone.
While unexpected weight loss in later life should prompt a visit to the doctor, it is important to note that this occurrence is relatively common and not necessarily a cause for alarm.
These findings, published in the Journal of Gerontology: Medical Sciences, support previous evidence indicating that older men who lose weight are more likely to have a shorter lifespan. Making weight maintenance a priority in older women could be key to living a longer and healthier life.
Denial of responsibility! VigourTimes is an automatic aggregator of Global media. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, and all materials to their authors. For any complaint, please reach us at – [email protected]. We will take necessary action within 24 hours.
