WHY? Why does getting older have to mean getting heavier? WHY?
Not everyone experiences this lovely phenomenon but most do. Why?
The Swedes say they know.
New research out of Sweden reported in
EurekAlert has revealed that the reason why is -- Lipid turnover in the fat tissue decreases during aging and it makes it easier to gain weight -- even if a person doesn't eat more or exercise less than before. So eating and exercising the same as always won't be enough to hold the line, the waistline, as our own lipids stab us in the..the ..fat!
Scientists studied the fat cells in 54 men and women over an average period of 13 years. During that time, the participants, regardless of whether they gained or lost weight, showed decreases in lipid turnover in the fat tissue, that is the rate at which lipid -- or fat-- in the fat cells is removed and stored. Those who didn't compensate for that by eating fewer calories gained weight by an average of 20%.
So now that we know what happens, we just have to determine why it happens. Until then, pass the carrots and cottage cheese and the walking shoes!
