It's never too late to start losing weight!
It's widely thought that the older you are, the harder it is to lose weight. That's not true according to this hospital study.
Too old to start losing weight? Not. At. All.
When researchers at the Warwickshire Institute for the Study of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism (WISDEM) looked at the records of those treated for morbid obesity between 2005 and 2016, they found that those over the age of 60 were as likely to lose weight as those under 60.
In fact, those in the older age group lost more weight on average than those in the younger age group.
Those over the age of 60 lost 7.3% of their body weight on average, while those under 60 lost 6.9% on average.
All of the patients included in the study received hospital-based management treatment through lifestyle interventions, including dietary and psychological support.
As the study authors point out, it's often difficult for older people to gain access to hospital-based obesity management. It appears that both medical professionals and patients themselves believe the myth that the older you are, the harder it is to lose weight. That results in fewer older people being put forward for what can be life-saving and life-changing interventions.
The moral of this study? If you are obese and think you're too old to lose weight, you're wrong. And it's up to you to make your doctor or healthcare provider aware of that fact, so that you can get the help and support that's available. If you show willing, doors will open.
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Article last updated: 23rd January 2021
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