Fat old age

Interesting replies, Thankyou. So I was right that most very old people are thin and it’s not through strict dieting.
I’m not obese, eat healthily and get plenty of exercise. I just wish I could stop feeling guilty about every mouthful and could gradually lose weight without effort.

What an inspiring lot of women you are ! At my age I expect I’ll still be fat when I’m put in my box. One thing for sure, none of the family will be carrying me into church I’ll be on wheels ?

Well done Whiff.
I wouldn`t worry about your weight watermeadow as long as you are healthy,life can be too short.
And nann8,i have never thought of that,a good point made.

My MiL was overweight all her life and lived to 103! She lost some weight as she got older but was always heavy.

I agree that a few pounds more are better than a few pounds less when you are over 80. Both my mother and aunt were ‘portly’ all their lives up to that point, then they no longer had their big appetite and sadly both lost their husbands. They became ‘little old ladies’.

I think when you over 80 being a bit overweight is probably healthier than being too thin. My 91 year old mother is still obsessed with her weight although she is far too thin and has terrible osteoarthritis (hope that's spelt correctly) She is very scathing about anybody who is overweight. I don't understand the obsession so many women have about their weight and other peoples weight tbh. It does seem like a female thing. You don't often hear men obsessing about weight to the same extent.

You don’t see many overweight people over the age of 80 - they tend to be no longer with us . I have never seen an overweight 90 year old.

I worry about being a bit overweight at 84. I ought to be thin and I'm not. So I'm trying hard now. I'm giving up carbs and eating lots of vegetables.

Dementia did it for my mother - within a couple of years she went from a size 14 to a small 10 - her appetite even for things she’d formerly loved (except chocolate!) had disappeared. She was over 80 at the start, though.

I don’t recommend this method!

I can remember (jokingly) asking a friend/colleague who worked in a stroke unit if I would. eventually, become a little old lady.

Weight problem all my life. When I was much younger, I could easily and speedily lose a stone and more in the matter of weeks each Spring (slowly put back during winter.

It has now taken me two years to lose nearly two stone, would still like to take off a further half stone, but that is proving almost impossible.

At checkups, I always get asked about my diet and my reply is 'Excellent, healthy and boring'!!! Did not even dare to enjoy any easter chocs, as that would immediately have put on weight for me.

Due to mobility problems, exercise, even walking is a No-No for me. So any weight loss has to be totally via diet AND I love food so it is hard.

I really envy people who seem to be able to eat whatever they want, and not put on weight.

I am approaching my 81st birthday now - according to an earlier poster in four years time I will be okay and finally become that little old lady I yearn to be.

My mother was obese all her life. She smoked 60+ a day for decades, unbridled appetite, high BP, high cholesterol, was a walking pharmacy, nasty and bitter, little exercise from 55 on. She died just short of 96.

In my voluntary work at a care of the elderly ward I can testify that none of the very old people I see (85-98) are overweight. In fact almost all of them are very thin indeed. They enjoy the hospital food which is amazingly good.

Another reason for weight loss in older women is Osteoporosis. If all your bones lose density then you will weigh less. You might still carry a fair amount of fat but your skeleton will shrink.

I was surprised when I gradually lost weight in my late 60s/early 70s and went from a size 18 to 16 to 14. I also lost an inch or two in height. Since I was diagnosed with osteoporosis and take the prescribed medication, my weight, height and size have stabilised, but I still remain 'plump' .

BlueSky

In my experience older women of 85 + seem to go thin, usually because of poor appetite and perhaps if they have become widows, they no longer bother to cook meals. Up to that age is the opposite.

Statistics corroborate your experience. Obesity levels rise until mid/late 70s and then they go down.

In my experience older women of 85 + seem to go thin, usually because of poor appetite and perhaps if they have become widows, they no longer bother to cook meals. Up to that age is the opposite.

Well done Whiff! Slow and steady wins the race. I lost gradually too and never put it back on thankfully. I have a whole new eating regime nowadays and absolutely love it. Again, well done you

That’s not what I see! Most older women look overweight to me. Much harder to lose weight after 60. Metabolism slows right down. Not for everyone but for most.

I have to eat less than 800 calories to lose weight…and believe you me that is not a lot. It can be soul destroying at times. It depends what’s important to you.

watermeadow unfortunately the weight won't suddenly disappeared. You have to work at losing the weight if you want to lose it. The worse thing my parents ever said to me was it's puppy fat and will go when you are older. I was a fat child and teenager who turned into a morbidly obese woman. This is my 5th year of eating less for life. I was over 19st lost 7st was size 32 now 16 still want to lose a stone and a bit. If it takes another year so be it . It's a marathon not a sprint. I will be 64 the end of this month.