Obesity and age

I think the oldest generation has a better handle on the concept of moderation. We (45-65) are a generation of excess, and our children even more so.

I read this today:

"Among age groups, Americans 45 to 64 years old have the highest obesity rate, 32.5 percent, while the rate is 26.6 percent for those age 65 and above. "
Why are the people who are age 65 and above have a lower obesity rate than those who are 45 to 64 years old?
Is it because these folks grew up in a time where the food supply was better and there was less junk food? Or is it that weight loss is part of aging? Or is it due to certain diseases that cause weight loss and are more common among the elderly? Could it be that they have more time to exercise after retirement?

This is a great question. My grandparents grew up during the depression era and neither of them were ever overweight. When they were kids, they worked hard and ate only when they were hungry. They also shared their food with large families.

When I was growing up, I saw them three square meals a day, desert after dinner, and they used portion control and never restricted any foods. I was always amazed with how they ate whatever they wanted and never gained or lost weight.

When I was growing up, there was plenty of food to go around.

I am not sure it is relevant, but both of my grandparents lost considerable weight in the last years of their life (not intentionally) due to ill health and losing their appetite. The doctors at the time seemed to suggest that that was common in old age, so I wonder whether that plays a role in those statistics.

I think elderly people tend to lose their appetite a bit too. I know most elderly people I know don't really go in for consuming mass quantities.

I think elderly people tend to lose their appetite a bit too. I know most elderly people I know don't really go in for consuming mass quantities.

I agree with this, I am 70 and my appetite is just not what it was, I see this often in my age group, just not hungry and leave food on the plate after a few mouthfuls

I am 66 years old. I agree the food was much better when I was young, but saying that I was fed bread and dripping with salt on sometimes which I loved and regular good meals and plenty of it on my plate. I was always over weight and looked awful. For instance, when I was 9 years old I weighed 9.stones (126.lbs)
I have struggled for years to lose weight. I been successful a few times and got down to 9.8.lbs

I was diagnosed with Asthma when I was 6 years of age, the year the Queen was crowned. Medication for Asthma I had was rybarvin which didn't help me much and I was sent to a convalescent home for sick children 1952 for 1 year. I was laid up and off school most of my childhood since then.
People today who have Asthma are so lucky to have the right medication for their needs, but of course its not nice for anyone to have and suffer this condition and I feel for anyone no matter what age because I know what they are going through.
I have always been in bad health in and out of hospital at that time and most of my life. Every time I was ill with chest infections my mum used to buy me sweets and cream cakes ect.. all the goodies (which are all bad foods) to cheer me up. In those days people didn't know or they were ignorant to the fact about diets ect...and what food were good or bad for us.
I think myself lucky to have lived to the age I am now 66. I was diagnosed with C.O.P.D. about 6-7 years ago, something that normally develops from Asthma as we age, so I've been told that is. And, I have also developed Diabetes since then which was really bad before I started dieting 2011 when I was 15.stone 2.lbs and that's before I started to record my diet too. I was told I had to go on insulin and inject myself, I refused it and tried dieting instead which was very difficult at the time, but the motivation was there. My diabetes has been normal for a long while now, about 2 years and I check that regular. Diet and exercise is a must for any age group because weight causes complications for our health.

I think its the medications that's helping people to live longer and a good diet and regular exercises for the people who are able too. Myself, I only do light exercises, those that I can manage. Some days I can't do any due to age and health.
I almost forgot about this bit...When I was young there was a lot of smog in the air, it was awful and it choked me, I had a scarf around my mouth every time I went out if the air was bad. People were dying at an early age, so that's another thing air pollution. These days, we've got air pollution and medications to help keep us elderly going and the young too.People are living longer these days mainly I think because of the medications that are around to help the elderly

the obese ones have already died