Obesity is not only young people’s problem. The risk of gaining weight can also be felt by those older. Therefore, it is not uncommon for them to find it difficult to get the ideal body weight. Why does this happen?

Researchers from the Karolinska Institutetmay have the answer to this question. According to the results of a study conducted by them, lipid turnover in fat tissue decreases as someone become older. This makes it easier for him/her to gain weight, regardless of the calorie intake and the amount of exercise he/she does.

In their study, researchers analysed the fat cells of 54 men and women over 13 years. During this period, regardless of the participants experiencing an increase or decrease in body weight, researchers found a decrease in lipid turnover in fat tissue. If not balanced with lower calorie intake, the risk of gaining weight can increase by up to 20%.

The researchers also analysed 41 women who underwent bariatric surgery, which is an operation carried out by someone to treat obesity. Researchers found that only those who had low lipid turnover rates before surgery could maintain their weight loss for 4-7 years after the operation. Researchers believe that they have more room to increase lipid turnover. Bodyweight can also be maintained by increasing physical activity. Exercise is known to accelerate the lipid turnover process in fat tissue

Furthermore, experts believe that understanding the relationship between the processes in fat tissue and body weight can open new ways to deal with obesity.

Text by Anggie Triana
Stock photos from Pixabay

Source(s):

• Arner, P., Bernard, S., Appelsved, L., et al (2019). Adipose lipid turnover and long-term changes in body weight. Nature Medicine, DOI: 10.1038 / s41591-019-0565-5.
• Science Daily - Why do people gain weight as they get older (2019). https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/09/190909193211.htm, 24 September 2019.