TheJakartaPost
Please Update your browser
Your browser is out of date, and may not be compatible with our website. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below.
Just click on the icons to get to the download page.
The truth behind weight gain at age 30
Change text size
Gift Premium Articles
to Anyone
Share the best of The Jakarta Post with friends, family, or colleagues. As a subscriber, you can gift 3 to 5 articles each month that anyone can read—no subscription needed!
Sarcopenia is a muscle loss condition that causes weight gain once one reaches 30 years of age. (Shutterstock/File)
You might hope to age like a fine wine, however, the opposite commonly happens.
Many have noticed that they gain weight easily at age 30. Some might want to blame hormonal and lifestyle changes, but this is not completely true.
According to Woman’s Day, sarcopenia is a muscle loss condition that causes weight gain once one reaches age 30.
“The amount of lean muscle mass we have is the primary determinant of metabolic rate. In other words, the more muscle mass we have, the more calories we will burn,” said Boston Medical Center director of the nutrition and weight management center, Dr. Caroline Apovian, adding that muscle mass starts to decline around age 30.
Read also: Myth busted: Eating nuts actually helps reduce weight gain
Apovian also mentions that the sarcopenia process speeds up around age 40.
Although sarcopenia is inevitable, it can be prevented through exercise and food. Apovian, who is also a professor at the Boston University School of Medicine, recommends that those who want to prevent sarcopenia exercise with weights at least twice a week and consume protein sources.
She also recommends getting plenty of sleep, as it gives the body time to repair and rebuild muscles. (jes/kes)
