Interactive Leonardo: The 50s |
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Weight and Height: Changes to Expect in Your 50s
Do you know what the National Institutes of Health calls "the greatest anti-aging pill ever"? Read on for more...
In both men and women metabolism slows down as they age (by about 4 percent
per decade), which may cause weight gain. Women's estrogen levels also drop at this life stage, making it easier for them to gain weight.
The question of how many fewer calories you need at age 50 as compared to age 40 is controversial. Some researchers say you need 50 - 100 fewer calories per day, whereas others say 200 is more like it. The point is, you do need to cut out unnecessary calories.
Though it's difficult to generalize about ideal weight, carrying extra weight stresses your skeleton and makes it harder to maintain erect posture, which in turn can cause height loss. Extra weight around the middle is also linked to increased risk of heart disease, stroke, Type II diabetes, and insulin resistance. Next Page >
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