«——【Background】——»
After the age of 60, weight is closely related to the length of life.
A study has published the optimal weight range for older adults, and this number may be upside down.
So, what exactly is the best weight?
Scientists reveal health secrets
When it comes to weight, the first thing that comes to most people's minds is figure and beauty, and who wouldn't want to have a slim figure and wear beautiful clothes.
But in fact, weight not only affects our appearance, but also related to our health, have you often heard the saying: it doesn't matter if you are fat, but it is healthier to be slightly fat.
Or "If you're too thin to get sick, eat more." These seemingly contradictory views are actually hidden mysteries.
In fact, the relationship between weight and health, especially longevity, is very subtle, and studies have shown that for people over 60, being moderately overweight is more conducive to longevity than being too light or overweight.
Did this surprise you? That's right, in old age, maintaining a certain amount of "slightly fat" status may be more beneficial to health than pursuing slimness.
So, what is the ideal weight range for seniors? This question has been bothering countless people who aspire to live a long and healthy life.
In 2023, a study published in the Chinese Journal of Geriatrics finally gave the answer.
Researchers followed a large number of weight and life expectancy data of people over 60 years old, and found that people in a certain weight range were significantly more likely to live longer than other populations.
This "golden weight", which is closely related to longevity, is likely to be the health secret of your dreams.
According to the traditional BMI (body mass index) standard, a healthy weight ranges from 18.5 to 23.9.
However, this standard is not fully applicable to the elderly population, and as we age, the body's metabolism, fat distribution, muscle content, etc. will change.
Therefore, a new set of standards is needed for the assessment of healthy weight in the elderly.
Excitingly, this latest study provides us with a "new standard" for weight in older adults.
Studies have found that people over 60 years old, if their BMI value remains between 24 and 31.9, that is, in the range of slightly overweight to mildly obese, have the highest chance of longevity and the lowest risk of disease.
This number range can be said to be the "golden weight" of the health and longevity of the elderly, and you are relieved to hear this new standard.
Finally, we don't have to over-diet and exercise in pursuit of slimness, but that doesn't mean we can indulge ourselves and do whatever we want.
Weight management should still vary from person to person, and develop a personalized health plan, and everyone's physical condition, lifestyle habits, family history, etc. are different.
Some people may be more likely to gain weight, while others are more inclined to be thin, we cannot simply apply a unified standard, but tailor a health management plan according to our actual situation.
For example, if you are already overweight or obese, even if you reach your "golden weight", you should not take it lightly.
You may need to slowly lose weight through a reasonable diet and exercise under the guidance of your doctor until you reach a healthy state that suits you.
And if you have been thin and underweight, then focus on supplementing nutrition and strengthening your physique, rather than blindly pursuing weight gain.
In short, the key to weight management in old age is to find your own healthy balance.
Don't follow blindly, don't go extreme, develop a practical health plan based on scientific evidence and professional advice, and stick to it.
I believe that as long as we take care of our bodies, we will be able to live a healthy, happy and dignified old age.
But it should be noted that this is not absolute, overweight, obesity, naturally there are a bunch of health risks.
However, on the other hand, the risk of "being too thin" cannot be ignored, and many people feel that it is always right to be thinner, and the thinner the healthier.
As everyone knows, the elderly are too thin, and the harm can be great, and being too underweight often means malnutrition and reduced resistance.
How can such a body withstand the "surprise attack" of viruses and bacteria, and moreover, the thin body has insufficient muscle mass.
If you are not careful, you will fall and be injured, fractured or something, which greatly increases the risk of losing your ability to take care of yourself.
So, don't feel that you are "coquettish", and at the critical moment, you have to be a little "fat".
Of course, we also understand that many elderly people lose weight out of the pursuit of health.
But in this process, don't fall into those common "weight loss mistakes".
In order to pursue rapid weight loss, many people try various "magical" weight loss methods, but the result is not only not slim down, but also spoils the body.
For example, some people copy the diet of young people, which is either a single ingredient or very low in calories.
As everyone knows, the nutritional needs of the elderly are very different from those of young people, and blind diets can easily lead to malnutrition.
There are also people who weigh themselves at every turn, and they are nervous at the slightest fluctuation, giving themselves an invisible psychological burden.
What's more, taking diet pills to control weight, not to mention hurting the body, may also cause weight rebound, and fall into a vicious circle of "losing more and getting fatter".
Weight loss misunderstandings such as these are not shallow, and health management is never an overnight thing.
The elderly should take it step by step, follow the doctor's advice, listen to the advice, and develop a scientific diet and exercise plan.
Keep your mouth shut, open your legs, neither overeat nor overeat, insist on exercising, and don't blindly work hard.
Find a rhythm that suits you and make health a habit and a pleasure.
Having said that, in the face of those dazzling weight loss propaganda and products, the elderly must recognize the "rumors" with their eyes, not blindly follow and not blindly believe.
No matter how anxious you are, don't "get hot in your head and mess up the rules", or that sentence, find the right "degree" in everything and manage your weight, even more so.
However, it is easier said than done, to truly achieve a healthy weight, it is not an overnight effort, and developing some scientific living habits is the fundamental way to live a long and healthy life.
Many elderly people retire at home and want to find something to eat when they have nothing to do, and their children often feed some high-calorie food, and their weight rises unconsciously.
If you want to control your weight, it is a good choice to eat small and frequent meals, eat five or six meals a day, and each meal is seven or eight minutes full, with meat and vegetables.
Eat more nutritious foods such as protein, fruits and vegetables, and less junk food that is high in sugar and fat, and naturally your weight will gradually become balanced.
Moderate exercise is a good remedy for delaying aging, many elderly people are worried that exercise will hurt the body, in fact, as long as you master the "degree", the benefits of exercise far outweigh the risks.
Taking a walk, doing tai chi, and dancing square dances are all ways for the elderly to exercise.
The key is to be consistent and make exercise a part of life.
If you stick to it, you will not only lose weight, but you will also feel happy, your body will be stronger, and it will be difficult to live a wonderful life in old age.
In addition to eating and moving balance, mentality is also very important, as the old saying goes: "The heart is wide and the body is fat." ”
After retirement, many elderly people lose their social roles, feel empty and lonely, and worry all day long, which is extremely detrimental to physical and mental health.
We need to learn to adjust our mentality, stay optimistic and cheerful, communicate more with family and friends, and cultivate more hobbies to make life full and meaningful.
At the same time, we should also pay attention to reducing stress and helping you sleep, go to bed early and get up early, so that your body and mind can get enough rest.
As the saying goes, health first nourishes the mind, and the body and mind are the only way to live a long and healthy life.
I believe that as long as we take care of ourselves with our hearts and warm others with love, no matter how the years change, we can meet every stage of life gracefully and calmly.
Dear friends, healthy weight management after the age of 60 is, in the final analysis, a practice of forming good habits.
Keeping your mouth shut, opening your legs, and adjusting your heart is easy to say, but it takes perseverance and determination to do.
But as long as we are willing to take the first step and develop good habits, healthy and long life is no longer a dream.
You can take action now and set yourself a small goal, such as eating one fruit a day starting today.
Exercise three times a week and listen to soothing music every night, one step at a time.
Let's move forward hand in hand and start a new life of health and happiness together.
Reference: Clinicians say popular science - what is the weight of the elderly and the longest life?
Guangming Net - When you are older, it is better to be fat or thin
CCTV - The secret of longevity He said two words