How Senior Citizens Gain Weight

As senior citizens age, they encounter a number of changes in their energy levels and health needs. With these changes sometimes comes an increase in weight that can come as a surprise.

Calorie Requirements

• Some senior citizens gain weight because their bodies need fewer calories as they age. Metabolism slows every year after a certain age, so the body burns fewer calories during daily activity. A sedentary woman over 50 requires only 1600 calories, while a sedentary woman at 30 requires about 1800. Likewise, sedentary men's caloric needs drop from 2200 to 2000 after the age of 50. Even for active seniors, there is a 200-calorie drop in daily caloric needs after around 50.

  This results in weight gain if seniors do not adjust their diets to consume about 200 fewer calories per day than they did before.

Sedentary Lifestyle

• As seniors begin their retirement, they may experience a major change in lifestyle. Not having to go to work can make some senior citizens more sedentary, especially if they join an insular retirement community or assisted living facility. This, plus changes in health and energy levels, can spell weight gain if exercise or activity levels drop off.

Decreased Muscle Mass

• Even when you ignore issues associate with a sedentary lifestyle, with increased age comes a natural decrease in muscle mass. Even seniors who maintain their level of physical activity need to work harder to maintain their muscle. Decreased muscle mass can also lead to a decrease in calories burned at rest, causing gradual weight gain over time.