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A spanish nutritionist settles the debate: Can you lose weight after 50?

Nutrition

The hormonal changes resulting from menopause cause the metabolism to slow down

La posibilidad de perder peso a partir de los 50 años es una de las preguntas más recurrentes en la consulta del nutricionista.

The possibility of losing weight after the age of 50 is one of the most common questions in a nutritionist's consultation

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As we age, our body goes through a series of changes. Among them, we could point out the fact that metabolism slows down. This affects women especially, as a result of menopause.

In light of this reality, one of the most common questions asked in the consultation of Dr. Magda Carlas, a medical doctor and nutritionist, is whether it is possible to lose weight after the age of 50. And the answer is yes, it is possible, but it will be more challenging. Therefore, the weight loss process will need to be approached taking into account the influence of this factor.

Overweight

Age is an influential factor in weight loss, although it does not make it impossible

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How to lose weight starting at 50 years old

When faced with the recurring question in consultations about whether it is possible to lose weight after turning 50, Magda Carlas responds that “after this age, metabolism slows down, especially in the case of women. There are also hormonal changes that make weight loss not as easy to achieve.”

At this stage of life, the nutritionist emphasizes the need to observe the overall health status and identify the causes of the overweight that concerns us, as well as ruling out possible pathologies. Once this analysis is done, it is advisable to provide personalized advice to each patient. But in general, “at this age it is necessary to organize the diet more, reduce alcohol intake, and watch out for unhealthy snacking. You have to take care of yourself more and indulge less,” highlights the expert.

Yes, it is possible to lose weight starting from the age of 50, although it may be more difficult

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In this regard, nutritionist Aitor Sánchez addressed the same question in his nutrition column for La Vanguardia. He acknowledges that the concerns arising from all the changes that menopause entails are justified, but he also clarifies that it is important to normalize the fact that nutritionally it will only be a new factor to take into account, but by itself it will not prevent achieving certain goals. Just like, for example, when we talk about nutrition during pregnancy, adolescence, or hypothyroidism, they are simply conditions, but not obstacles to a specific goal.

“At that age, of course, weight loss is possible, and the approach is exactly the same as in other stages of life. If the goal is to lose excess fat, it is best to follow good habits that lead us to it, with a healthy diet and an active lifestyle as pillars,” notes the expert. While it is true that “some of the hormonal changes that occur at this stage may make it more difficult to access fat stores, or that insulin sensitivity may be slightly modified,” he assures that “these are issues that in many cases require more patience and consistency to see changes, especially in body composition.”

A healthy and balanced diet is essential for losing weight at any age

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That's why Aitor Sánchez urges to approach this new stage “as an opportunity to improve your overall health habits,” instead of seeing it “as an excuse or as an impediment that prevents you from achieving those goals.” “Remember, however, that it is important to focus on having a healthy lifestyle and not to concentrate so much on the scale and weight because they are not a unique or reliable indicator of health,” he concludes.

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