Women who maintain a stable weight after age 60 are more likely to live past age 90, compared to those who lose weight.
- From the age of 90, scientists speak of exceptional longevity.
- In a study, researchers showed that, for women, maintaining a stable weight after the age of 60 helps to overcome this milestone.
- On the other hand, they point out that weight loss may be recommended for people suffering from overweight or obesity.
Weight gain can be dangerous for your health, just like weight loss. Over the years, the body needs even more stability. This is what researchers from the University of California at San Diego demonstrate in a new study published in Journal of Gerontology: Medical Sciences. They explain that after age 60, women are more likely to live a long life if they maintain a stable weight.
Weight: stability is associated with longevity
The authors used a database bringing together nearly 54,500 women. All took part in a trial on the causes of chronic diseases in postmenopausal women. Among them, 56% lived to at least 90 years old. Scientists therefore wanted to understand the influence of weight and its changes on this exceptional longevity. They noticed that women with a stable weight after age 60 were more likely to live a long life, compared to those who lost weight. “Women who lost at least 5% of their weight were less likely to achieve this longevity, develop the authors. (…) A weight gain of 5% or more, compared to a stable weight, was not associated with exceptional longevity.“According to the authors, women over 60 who maintained their weight were 1.2 to 2 times more likely to achieve so-called exceptional longevity, that is, to live beyond the age of 90, than those who suffered weight loss. weight of 5% or more.
Weight loss in older women: a sign of poor health?
For Aladdin H. Shadyab, the lead author of this study, unwanted weight loss can be indicative of an underlying problem. “If older women find themselves losing weight when they are not trying to, this could be a warning sign of poor health and an indicator of decreased longevity.”, he believes. Last April, a previous study demonstrated that weight loss in older adults is associated with a higher risk of death and reduced quality of life.
Weight and longevity: you must follow the recommendations of health professionals
Conversely, the authors point out that too much weight can also be dangerous for your health. “It is very common for older women in the United States to be overweight or obese with a body mass index between 25 and 35″, underlines Aladdin H. Shadyab. According to him, it is important that women take into account the medical recommendations concerning them, particularly if moderate weight loss is recommended to improve their health or their quality of life.
