Is the whole "10 lbs per decade" thing true?

CrossTeach
CrossTeach Posts: 3
in Health and Weight Loss
I worry about this one. My grandma, for instance, was really small and had a fast metabolism all her life, but by the time she died she was like 170 @ 70-something yrs old. So is it true that for every 10 years you are alive you will put on 10 lbs? Thoughts?

Replies

  • usmcmp
    usmcmp Posts: 21,219 Member
    If you gain weight it means you are eating more than your body needs.

    It is possible that as some people age they stop moving as much/burning as many calories and they continue eating like they always have. That would result in weight gain.

    Life doesn't just say, "Congrats on reaching 60! Here's another 10 pounds."
  • Iwishyouwell
    Iwishyouwell Posts: 1,888 Member
    As you grow older you tend to lose muscle in your 30s and beyond. This helps lower resting metabolism.

    People also tend to, on average, move less and less the older they get.

    Yet they continue to eat as they did when they were younger.

    Hence weight gain.

    It is not inevitable if you combat muscle wasting with an effective, consistent strength training program and/or watch your caloric intake.
  • LeonCX
    LeonCX Posts: 862 Member
    If it were true, that would make me 180 years old. No wonder my bones hurt.
  • Kalikel
    Kalikel Posts: 9,603 Member
    It depends on the person, their eating habits and their health.

    Getting old does not mean you must be fat. Hell, how many 400 pound eighty year olds have you seen? I've seen none. :)
  • astroophys
    astroophys Posts: 175 Member
    No. Your grandma ate more than she needed.
  • CrossTeach
    CrossTeach Posts: 3
    Funny! Lol
  • JustAnotherGirlSuzanne
    JustAnotherGirlSuzanne Posts: 932 Member
    Excuses.
  • BusyRaeNOTBusty
    BusyRaeNOTBusty Posts: 7,166 Member
    10lbs per decade is 1lbs per year. That's only 3500 calories over maintenance each year, which is less than 10 calories over maintenance each day. That'd be super easy to do. However, by the same logic you could lose 10lbs per decade by only eating 10 calories less than maintenance every day.

    I weigh less now at 34 years old, after 3 kids, than I did in high school.
  • MandyMason7
    MandyMason7 Posts: 185 Member
    I weigh less now at 34 years old, after 3 kids, than I did in high school.

    Same here except I'm 28. The rest all applies though :)

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