Plan on living a long healthy life full of travel, relaxation and grandkids? Maybe not if you’re overweight or obese. Gaining weight in your middle age lowers your chances of growing old gracefully and in good health by 80%!
As a women’s health practitioner, I hear about weight gain all the time. It tends to creep on after the kids, then again as you hit peri-menopause and finally again when you get into full-blown menopause. Unfortunately, this excess baggage around your middle, your rear, and your thighs are slowly killing you.
Research shows that for every one point above a normal body mass index (BMI) of 25, you have a 12% lower chance of getting to 70 years old in good health. This means a 5’7” woman who weighs 175 pounds has a BMI of 28 which equates to a 36% less chance of reaching 70 in good health.
Or for my height challenged friends, a 5’2” woman weight 155 pounds also has a BMI of 28, which means she will also have a 36% less chance of reaching 70 in good health.
By good health, studies mean free of chronic disease and able to perform normal activities of daily living such as cooking, cleaning, getting dressed, walking up stairs…etc. The most common medical conditions brought about by excess fat tissue is heart disease, diabetes, and cancer.
If 40 is the new 20, then 70 is the new 50 and I can attest for its truth. My husband and I just had dinner with his 77 year old aunt who looks and feels fabulous. She’s remodeling her kitchen and doing some travel around the state. Her BMI is probably around 22 which is well within the healthy range.
I know food is good. It tastes good, it feels good, and it helps us if we aren’t in a good mood. It bonds friends, families, and strangers together. It’s the hallmark of holidays to gather around the dining table and eat. But ladies, you have to make good choices most of the time.
Work with your health care provider to have your complete thyroid checked and your hormones examined. Consider adrenal testing through a saliva test to examine your stress response and make sure you are not anemic or borderline anemic (either iron or B12). Cut out the diet sodas and fancy coffee drinks with sugar (including lattes and mochas) and drink more water. Increase your protein and vegetable intake and reduce your simple white flour carbohydrates and fried fast foods. Stop drinking alcohol – it’s empty no-nutrition calories and not good for pregnancy anyways. Lastly, have your blood sugar and insulin checked as rising levels means more belly fat.
You can do this – I know you can. Keep a healthy BMI and grow old gracefully and feeling good.
References:
Qi Sun, Mary K Townsend, Olivia I Okereke, Oscar H Franco, Frank B Hu, Francine Grodstein. Adiposity and weight change in mid-life in relation to healthy survival after age 70 in women: prospective cohort study. BMJ,2009;339:b3796