Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’ve noticed this trend for awhile among people I know. Most of these people are otherwise healthy people (a couple lost weight due to cancer and other disease). Those in their early 40s who now look to be in their mid-50s because they are so gaunt (eg, sunken cheeks). Is there anyway to avoid this from happening besides going back in time and not putting on weight to begin with?

Putting the weight back on won't solve the problem. The person will just look old and chubby. The weight doesn't go back to the same places.

Never said anything about putting weight back on as a solution. Just that losing the weight really ages people. I’ve seen a younger friend offered senior discount twice. She was very depressed as she’s in her mid 40s. DH is 49 and lost weight during COVID “lockdown” because he wasn’t on travel so much. Now he looks like he’s closer to 60. Losing weight for many of these people hasn’t translated into looking younger.

people lose weight to be healthier, not to look younger. Aging only goes in one direction.

Anonymous wrote:I’ve noticed this trend for awhile among people I know. Most of these people are otherwise healthy people (a couple lost weight due to cancer and other disease). Those in their early 40s who now look to be in their mid-50s because they are so gaunt (eg, sunken cheeks). Is there anyway to avoid this from happening besides going back in time and not putting on weight to begin with?

White people problems

Anonymous wrote:I haven’t read all the comments. But I’m 52. I’ve lost 120lbs over the last 2 years and it really does age you. My only saving grace is that I’m African American and my face doesn’t show wrinkles but “I” think it looks a little gaunt (DH and friends say the opposite). So I agree with OP initial statement. I actually stopped trying to lose because other people who are not friends but just acquaintances were asking me if I was sick! I really wish I had my fat face back. I’m hoping to have a full tummy tuck, arm lift, and breast lift next year.


I also agree with the above poster regarding NOT doing the stop and start approach. If I had done that I would have never lost the weight I have. For most trying to seriously loose a lot of weight, you can’t stop mid battle.

Congratulations on that loss though, wow, that's like losing a whole other person in weight, no small feat. I bet you have energy now!

I haven’t read all the comments. But I’m 52. I’ve lost 120lbs over the last 2 years and it really does age you. My only saving grace is that I’m African American and my face doesn’t show wrinkles but “I” think it looks a little gaunt (DH and friends say the opposite). So I agree with OP initial statement. I actually stopped trying to lose because other people who are not friends but just acquaintances were asking me if I was sick! I really wish I had my fat face back. I’m hoping to have a full tummy tuck, arm lift, and breast lift next year.


I also agree with the above poster regarding NOT doing the stop and start approach. If I had done that I would have never lost the weight I have. For most trying to seriously loose a lot of weight, you can’t stop mid battle.

Who cares? Why are you observing and judging others so closely? (You're seriously clocking the weight and appearance of cancer patients, and ruminating on their superficial appearance?!)

If you lose some weight and start to think you're looking gaunt, enjoy a piece of pie and skip a workout.

For myself in late 40s, when I get down to the weight I was in my 20s I find that my neck gets all rope-y and my cheekbones stick out. There is no longer that nice youthful layer of fat there.

I lost weight in my late 40s (same weight as HS) but overall, I don't really look good at any weight. A rope-y neck is never going to be my worst feature. I like feeling strong and having abs and defined arms (plus any weight I gained back would just go to my thighs anyway).

Agree that people who are uncomfortable with being overweight should make an effort to improve their diet and fitness without worrying about whether potential weight loss will "ruin" a particular body part. Most people are going to feel better at a healthier weight.

For myself in late 40s, when I get down to the weight I was in my 20s I find that my neck gets all rope-y and my cheekbones stick out. There is no longer that nice youthful layer of fat there.

Anonymous wrote:Guys!

If you are overweight and want to lose weight, DO IT!!!

No matter how old you are.

Who tf cares if you look older? You’re going to feel so good and the happiness is probably going to give you a youthful glow (not that it matters). And you’re definitely going to be more energetic.

Guess what, you’ll live longer and your insides will look young. 😉

+1.

Guys!

If you are overweight and want to lose weight, DO IT!!!

No matter how old you are.

Who tf cares if you look older? You’re going to feel so good and the happiness is probably going to give you a youthful glow (not that it matters). And you’re definitely going to be more energetic.

Guess what, you’ll live longer and your insides will look young. 😉

I am the opposite. In my mid 40s and when I dropped 20 pounds people thought I was much younger. I guess it depends on where you carry your weight.

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Anonymous wrote:Slowing down and pausing during weight loss gives skin chance to tighten (and also helps promote weight maintenance). So lose 10 lbs, pause and maintain for a month, lose 10 more. Or lose for 6 months, pause and maintain for 3 months, go back to losing.

Also setting a target weight that is slightly overweight or at the upper end of BMI rather than the weight you looked best at when you were in your 20s/30s. Older people are often more attractive/look younger at a higher BMI than younger people. Post 50 being slightly overweight (e.g. BMI of 26) is also associated with the lowest all-cause mortality.

My grandma used to say that fat people get sick, and skinny people die. There really is something to having a little extra reserves as you get older, which can help carry you through an illness.

Does Grandma realize we ALL are going to die?

I’d rather die from what ails me than stay alive on live support or
Hospice while my body lives off of my accumulated fat, frankly.

It's not about life support/hospice--it's the likelihood of whether you will die from something simple like pneumonia or another infection. Being slightly overweight is generally protective in old age. Just good to know for older dieters.

please provide a medical citation for your statement. We will all wait. Oh, the CDC reports that being fat was the #1 comorbidity to death from Covid. “Protective” ??? Keep lying to yourself.

I did earlier--it's a large scale study and there have been meta-analyses This is actually an area I research:

My quote from an earlier post :Obesity levels 2 and 3 are associated with early mortality compared to normal weight. Obesity level 1 has the same mortality rate as normal weight, and overweight has a lower association with with all-cause mortality.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC48555...wer%20all%2Dcause%20mortality. "

The link didn't copy properly when I cut and pasted from earlier message--here it is:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4855514/#:~:text=Conclusions%20and%20Relevance,significantly%20lower%20all%2Dcause%20mortality

The conclusion of this report states what we all know - if you are in any stage of obesity your mortality is at risk: Please stop with your characterization of this article to support of your own issues on weight less or wrinkles or whatever your deal is. We get it - you are fat and hoping for justification. You do you.
The next Covid is going to happen - do your research on how fat impacts the organs - in the case of Covid - the lungs. See your doctor and ask for a medical interpretation of the article you provided.

I know how to read the report--I do this for a living. And my interpretation isn't about me (I'm not yet of later middle-aged where the report would even pertain to me, and I'm here just trying to lose the 10 lbs I gained over the pandemic). I just thought my knowledge was relevant to the thread. You can ignore it if you don't want to believe it. Feel free to ask your doctor about the report if you're curious.

The report states that being overweight has the lowest mortality compared to being normal weight AND that there is no difference in mortality between obesity 1 (BMI 30-34.9) and normal weight in terms of all cause mortality. There is higher mortality in being in Obesity 2 and 3 which is a BMI above 35. Health researchers know this pattern but we don't totally know what causes it. We don't advocate people to be overweight especially at younger ages because there are of course other health impacts besides dying that are associated with obesity--and if you on a trend of gaining weight when you are younger you might end up in Obesity 2 and 3 which are really bad for your health. But if you're losing weight when you're older, it's fine to have a target weight at the higher end of normal BMI or even overweight. And if you've gained a little weight--not to obesity level--in later middle age, you might live longer if you focus on maintaining weight and fitness/strength training rather than losing weight through calorie restriction.

As for Covid, though the data is still really in flux, obesity is clearly a risk factor. It's unclear whether being overweight is--it may be at the younger ages, it doesn't seem to be for middle-aged/older, but no one has a fully clear picture at this point. But covid-19 has been unusual in the level of negative impact of obesity compared to other infectious diseases, so we don't really know if the 'next covid' would have the same effect.

This is the case for people who are slightly overweight. Do you know how many people are slightly overweight? Almost no one. If you'd see someone my height who is slightly overweight - like 160 lbs. at 5'7 - you'd think she's a supermodel in America. Most women my height are over 180 lbs. The average woman in America is 5'4 and 175 lbs. Obese.

About 43% of adults 44+ in the US are obese at any level, and about 10% of them are severely obese.
From the research, in terms of all-cause mortality, being obese level 1 also has no impact over normal weight. So say for 5'7 that would be 223 lbs or lower. This, of course, does not mean it is healthy to be 191-223 lbs at 5'7" even in your 50s-60s. You are more likely have diabetes, joint problems, heart disease and other issues that impact the quality of your life. If you are younger, there is also a strong likelihood your obesity would worsen with age. The findings just suggest you are not more likely to die than someone who is normal weight. (though like one noted there is a chance during covid these data could be impacted--but this is what was consistently found for decades up until 2019--we'll have to wait a few years to see how strongly covid impacts the trends). Overweight at 5'7" would be 160-191. That weight band was associated with the least all cause mortality even compared to people who were normal weight (118-159). In this band, in your 50s+ you could protect your health more by focusing on fitness and quality of diet over losing weight. That's the real reason I brought this up in this thread. Say you're 170 at 5'7" in your 50s--so in the middle of the 'overweight' band. There's a good chance that if you shift gears away from losing that last 10-15 lbs towards focusing on your fitness and quality of diet and maintaining your weight, you won't get that 'gaunt' look AND you may be less likely to die from all causes. Though if you have specific health conditions (e.g., diabetes, heart disease) that your doctor thinks would be improved by being in the normal weight band, aiming for the upper end of normal weight- might be a better goal. Fixating on a weight loss goal of your ideal weight at 30 might not be better for your facial appearance (or loose skin in general) or your overall health.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Slowing down and pausing during weight loss gives skin chance to tighten (and also helps promote weight maintenance). So lose 10 lbs, pause and maintain for a month, lose 10 more. Or lose for 6 months, pause and maintain for 3 months, go back to losing.

Also setting a target weight that is slightly overweight or at the upper end of BMI rather than the weight you looked best at when you were in your 20s/30s. Older people are often more attractive/look younger at a higher BMI than younger people. Post 50 being slightly overweight (e.g. BMI of 26) is also associated with the lowest all-cause mortality.

My grandma used to say that fat people get sick, and skinny people die. There really is something to having a little extra reserves as you get older, which can help carry you through an illness.

Does Grandma realize we ALL are going to die?

I’d rather die from what ails me than stay alive on live support or
Hospice while my body lives off of my accumulated fat, frankly.

It's not about life support/hospice--it's the likelihood of whether you will die from something simple like pneumonia or another infection. Being slightly overweight is generally protective in old age. Just good to know for older dieters.

please provide a medical citation for your statement. We will all wait. Oh, the CDC reports that being fat was the #1 comorbidity to death from Covid. “Protective” ??? Keep lying to yourself.

I did earlier--it's a large scale study and there have been meta-analyses This is actually an area I research:

My quote from an earlier post :Obesity levels 2 and 3 are associated with early mortality compared to normal weight. Obesity level 1 has the same mortality rate as normal weight, and overweight has a lower association with with all-cause mortality.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC48555...wer%20all%2Dcause%20mortality. "

The link didn't copy properly when I cut and pasted from earlier message--here it is:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4855514/#:~:text=Conclusions%20and%20Relevance,significantly%20lower%20all%2Dcause%20mortality

The conclusion of this report states what we all know - if you are in any stage of obesity your mortality is at risk: Please stop with your characterization of this article to support of your own issues on weight less or wrinkles or whatever your deal is. We get it - you are fat and hoping for justification. You do you.
The next Covid is going to happen - do your research on how fat impacts the organs - in the case of Covid - the lungs. See your doctor and ask for a medical interpretation of the article you provided.

I know how to read the report--I do this for a living. And my interpretation isn't about me (I'm not yet of later middle-aged where the report would even pertain to me, and I'm here just trying to lose the 10 lbs I gained over the pandemic). I just thought my knowledge was relevant to the thread. You can ignore it if you don't want to believe it. Feel free to ask your doctor about the report if you're curious.

The report states that being overweight has the lowest mortality compared to being normal weight AND that there is no difference in mortality between obesity 1 (BMI 30-34.9) and normal weight in terms of all cause mortality. There is higher mortality in being in Obesity 2 and 3 which is a BMI above 35. Health researchers know this pattern but we don't totally know what causes it. We don't advocate people to be overweight especially at younger ages because there are of course other health impacts besides dying that are associated with obesity--and if you on a trend of gaining weight when you are younger you might end up in Obesity 2 and 3 which are really bad for your health. But if you're losing weight when you're older, it's fine to have a target weight at the higher end of normal BMI or even overweight. And if you've gained a little weight--not to obesity level--in later middle age, you might live longer if you focus on maintaining weight and fitness/strength training rather than losing weight through calorie restriction.

As for Covid, though the data is still really in flux, obesity is clearly a risk factor. It's unclear whether being overweight is--it may be at the younger ages, it doesn't seem to be for middle-aged/older, but no one has a fully clear picture at this point. But covid-19 has been unusual in the level of negative impact of obesity compared to other infectious diseases, so we don't really know if the 'next covid' would have the same effect.

This is the case for people who are slightly overweight. Do you know how many people are slightly overweight? Almost no one. If you'd see someone my height who is slightly overweight - like 160 lbs. at 5'7 - you'd think she's a supermodel in America. Most women my height are over 180 lbs. The average woman in America is 5'4 and 175 lbs. Obese.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What’s wrong with looking older?

Nothing except when you look like you’ve aged dramatically overnight and look significantly older than you are. My DH seriously now looks at least 10years older than he is. Not good when you work in IT where age discrimination is real for many.

He needs a mini face lift. My FIL, who is a cardiologist BTW, had one in his 50s and the recovery was only 2 weeks.

It's OK that you are jealous of my cheekbones and firm backside.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Slowing down and pausing during weight loss gives skin chance to tighten (and also helps promote weight maintenance). So lose 10 lbs, pause and maintain for a month, lose 10 more. Or lose for 6 months, pause and maintain for 3 months, go back to losing.

Also setting a target weight that is slightly overweight or at the upper end of BMI rather than the weight you looked best at when you were in your 20s/30s. Older people are often more attractive/look younger at a higher BMI than younger people. Post 50 being slightly overweight (e.g. BMI of 26) is also associated with the lowest all-cause mortality.

My grandma used to say that fat people get sick, and skinny people die. There really is something to having a little extra reserves as you get older, which can help carry you through an illness.

Does Grandma realize we ALL are going to die?

I’d rather die from what ails me than stay alive on live support or
Hospice while my body lives off of my accumulated fat, frankly.

It's not about life support/hospice--it's the likelihood of whether you will die from something simple like pneumonia or another infection. Being slightly overweight is generally protective in old age. Just good to know for older dieters.

please provide a medical citation for your statement. We will all wait. Oh, the CDC reports that being fat was the #1 comorbidity to death from Covid. “Protective” ??? Keep lying to yourself.

This is a well-known fact. Google it for yourself.