Are you continuing to grow – not taller but out? Most adults as they age will start to get thicker in the middle area. Now analysis of a large population of nurses suggests that gaining belly fat increases the risk of being unhealthy in your later years.
For years it has been accepted that one of the gradual alterations in our bodies that occurs with aging is a change in shape which includes getting bigger round the middle (abdominal adiposity). We probably all secretly knew that this might not be so good.
The Nurses’ Health Study was started in 1976 when 121,700 registered nurses between the ages of 30 and 55, answered a questionnaire. The same group has had follow-up questionnaires every couple of years.
In a new study some of the data from the Nurses’ Health Study was analyzed to see what features those who survived to at least 70 years old and were still healthy had in common.
For the purposes of this study being healthy was defined as having “no history of 11 major chronic diseases and having no substantial cognitive, physical, or mental limitations.” All those who when they reach 70 had had none of the diseases and were not limited physically or mentally limited were included in the healthy group.
The diseases were cancer (excluding non-melanoma skin cancer), diabetes, myocardial infarction (heart attack), coronary artery bypass graft surgery, congestive heart failure, stroke, kidney failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
17,065 nurses who survived to age 70 years, were included in the study. Of these nurses, 1,686 (9.9%) were evaluated to be healthy by the above criteria.
The worst odds of being healthy and living to 70 were found in those who were overweight at 18 years old and had gained 10 kg (22 lbs) or more. In all BMI categories those who gained weight had a higher risk of being unhealthy at age 70, than those who had maintained their weight close to their weight at age 18.
Both increases in waist and hip size increased risk of being unhealthy at age 70, and increased waist to hip ratio further decreased the likelihood of being healthy when reaching 70. An increase in waist to hip ratio indicates that the distribution of fat is uneven with, more fat deposited in the belly than the hips. This relative increase in belly fat was found to be strongly related to not being “healthy” at 70 years old.
This study provides further evidence for trying to keep weight stable and gaining as little belly fat (abdominal adiposity) as possible if you want to have an active healthy old age. Depressing but true.
photo credit: Kris Haamer
