“Metabolic rate is really stable all through adult life, 20 to 60 years old,” said study author Herman Pontzer, an associate professor of evolutionary anthropology at Duke University and author of “Burn,” a new book about metabolism. “There's no effect of menopause that we can see, for example.
New study says decline begins in our 50s
Researchers with Duke University's School of Medicine suggest that physical decline begins in the decade of the 50s and worsens as we age, especially for those who don't exercise.
Slower metabolism
If you're seeing weight gain in your 30s, this may well be why. As you get older, your metabolism starts slowing down - meaning you don't require as much energy to fuel yourself, despite still having a 25-year-old's appetite.
For many people, the term metabolism really means metabolic rate — the speed at which your body burns calories to keep its basic functions running. Your metabolic rate does change during your early life, but it plateaus between the ages of 20 and 60, and only decreases by around 1% per year after that.
“Yes, it's definitely more difficult to lose weight as you get older,” says Kim Larson, registered dietitian and spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics. “There are so many physiological changes as you age, through your 30s, 40s, and 50s.
Epidemiologists have observed that the average person typically puts on 1 to 2 pounds a year from early adulthood through middle age. The CDC's numbers show that much of the increase is concentrated in the 20s, for men and women.
Researchers found that metabolism peaks around age 1, when babies burn calories 50 percent faster than adults, and then gradually declines roughly 3 percent a year until around age 20.
Protein: Healthy lean proteins like chicken breast, turkey and fish requires more energy to digest than carbs and fats and we use protein to help cell repair. Therefore, more protein in your diet can increase your body's ability to build muscle and increase your metabolism.
For instance, if you're 30 and your metabolic age is 28, it means that you're in good physical health. However, if your metabolic age is higher than 30, you should probably implement some lifestyle changes and take steps to improve your health.
A slow metabolism has many symptoms, and you're likely to have one if you find it difficult to lose weight and easy to gain weight. Other symptoms include fatigue, poor digestion, constipation, low mood, and a colder than average body temperature. All of these are caused by the lower production of energy and heat.
The signs of premature aging are more than just wrinkles. It's important to remember that while the signs of premature aging can include fine lines, age spots, and creases, they also have things like thinning and dull skin, loss of elasticity in your skin, and even hair loss.
Why does metabolic rate slow down for women? Over time, studies have shown that metabolic rate (how fast we burn calories) starts to slow down by 2 to 3 percent each decade, beginning in our 20s. It becomes more noticeable between ages 40 and 60.
On average, adults gained 17.6 pounds during their 20s and 30s and 14.3 pounds during their 30s and 40s. They also found that, on average, women gained more weight than men, putting on an average of 12 pounds compared with six pounds for men.
No matter what your age, you can improve your fitness.
If it's been a long time since you've exercised and you're feeling less than fit, you might think that it's too late to make a change. But you're wrong. You can improve your fitness at any age.
It is possible to get ripped at any age. Months ago, Men's Health US fitness advisor Bill Hartman was like many of us: in decent enough shape, but heading in the wrong direction after years of eating on the go while working long hours. Sure, he exercised hard a few days a week and ate healthy food.
Muscle is denser than fat, and as it is more compact within your body, as you gain muscle mass, you end up looking thinner, no matter your physical weight. So, if you've been doing a lot of strength training lately, it's likely this is the reason that you're looking fantastic but not dropping those numbers.
The typical fat-gain areas for many women are the hips, arms and thighs, giving them what is termed a 'pear-shape'. The other areas where many women accumulate fat are the chest and the abdomen. Such women have slim arms and legs, and are seen as 'apple-shaped'. They also might have a family history of diabetes.
There are many reasons why people gain belly fat, including poor diet, lack of exercise, and stress. Improving nutrition, increasing activity, and making other lifestyle changes can help people lose belly fat. Belly fat refers to fat around the abdomen.