Why an increase in belly fat doubles the risk of frailty in old age

According to the study, a significant “middle-age spread” can significantly increase the risk of frailty in old age.

Research has shown that, over a 21-year period, obese people are two and a half times more likely to become weak or “pre-fragile” than healthy weight people.

Vulnerability is when someone is less able to cope with and recover from accidents, physical illness or other stressful events, and is considered a long-term health condition by the NHS. Vulnerability, not age, is an effective way to identify individuals who are at higher risk of future hospitalization, nursing home placement, or death.

Prefragility is a point where some symptoms of weakness are present and the person is more likely to be considered weak later on.

According to a study published in the journal, people with a high waist circumference were twice as likely to be pre-fragile or weak as people with a normal waist, and people with a moderately high waist were 57 percent more at risk. BMJ opened found it.

The researchers also found that obese people with large waists were even more at risk and were three times more likely to become weak.

This connection goes against the typical public perception of what it means to be weak and leads to a sharp increase in the number of people who are “fat and weak” as obesity rates rise, the researchers warn.

“Our results showed that people with high BMI and high waist circumference were more likely to become pre-fragile or weak later in life compared to other groups,” Shrishti Uchai from the University of Oslo told me. I.

“And if we are obese for a long time, there is an even greater risk of becoming frail with age, which is worrying.

“Currently, the proportion of older people worldwide is increasing, and at the same time, obesity is increasing in all age groups. And there is growing evidence that a subgroup of “fat and weak” older adults, on the contrary, perceive weakness as a debilitating condition.

“Our study shows how important it is to control not only our BMI but also our waist circumference in adulthood to reduce the risk of frailty in older age.”

Although obesity – a measure of weight in relation to height – and a high waist often go hand in hand, this is not always the case.

Although BMI provides information about overall obesity, it does not provide information about the distribution of fat in different parts of the body.

And it doesn’t distinguish between fat and lean mass, meaning that people with high lean mass can sometimes have higher BMIs, Ms. Uchai says.

On the other hand, a larger waist is associated with the presence of visceral fat, which is considered more dangerous in terms of health. According to Ms Uchai, both BMI and waist circumference are best used to assess risk.

Weakness increases the risk of falls – a leading cause of accidents and hospitalizations – a third of people over 65 in the UK fall at least once a year, and one in five of those falls results in injury, according to the National Health Service.

It also reduces disease resistance in general for relatively “minor” health problems such as urinary tract infection, which can have potentially serious long-term health and well-being consequences.

About 10 percent of people over 65 live with a disability. In the UK, this figure rises to 25-50% for those aged 85 and over.

Susceptibility typically includes at least three of the four symptoms, including fatigue, poor grip strength, slow walking speed and physical activity, and unintentional weight loss.

The scientists behind the study believe obese older adults may be at increased risk because obesity exacerbates age-related declines in muscle strength, aerobic capacity and overall physical function.

Fat cells increase the risk of inflammation and can invade muscle cells.

As we age, muscle mass is replaced by fat and physical function declines. This phenomenon presents a particular problem for overweight older people who lack muscle mass in relation to their height. Researchers say the misalliance makes it increasingly difficult to physically function.

Ms. Uchai explains, “Aging is associated with inflammation and a decline in muscle mass and strength. In combination with obesity, these processes are further aggravated, which impairs the physical performance of a person and increases the risk of decrepitude.

“This is because when we are full, we have more fat in our body. It has been proven that an increase in fat, especially in the abdomen, is harmful. It produces inflammatory markers, which leads to long-term inflammation that is harmful to the abdominal cavity. In addition, obesity is also associated with lipid infiltration into muscle fibers, resulting in reduced muscle strength and function.”

Professor Adam Gordon, President of the British Society of Geriatrics, said: “This article confirms our growing recognition of the phenomenon of ‘sarcopenic obesity’. This is the link between obesity and poor muscle quality.

“This leads to reduced strength and mobility and can increase the risk of falls. If people want to reduce the likelihood of weakness later in life, they should start trading in middle age. That means regular exercise and choosing a diet that will help you maintain a healthy weight,” he said.

Tam Fry, chairman of the National Obesity Forum, said: “Regular follow-up is essential but unfortunately it has never been adopted in the UK. In Japan, all employers are required by law to check the waist measurements of their employees annually as part of a strategy to minimize obesity. If the readings go beyond the established limits, the authorities will be fined. Result? The obesity rate in Japan is 6 percent, and here it is 29 percent and rising.”

Caroline Abrahams, director of charity Age UK, said: “As we age, it is important to stay active and eat right to stay as healthy and independent as possible. Having enough variety in our diet so that we get all the nutrients we need to maintain a healthy weight will help us stay healthy.

“Finding ways to be more physically active in whatever way we can is good for our health. Walking more, giving up long periods of sitting, joining a group, or starting a new activity are all great ideas. Even a small amount of exercise can make a big difference to our mental and physical health. Trying to make regular exercise an important part of our daily routine is one of the best ways to stay healthy and therefore independent.

The researchers received the results of seven in-depth medical examinations of the population of the Norwegian city of Tromsø.

Each study consists of seven waves of surveys of 45,000 residents of Tromsø, Norway, aged 25 to 99, conducted between 1974 and 2015–2016.

The final analysis included 4509 people aged 45 and over. The median age at baseline was 51 years, with a median follow-up of 21 years.

A BMI less than 18.5 was classified as underweight, normal 18.5–24.9, overweight 25–29.9, and obese 30 or more.

Waist circumference was assessed as normal (94 cm or less in men and 80 cm or less in women); moderately high (95-102 cm in men and 81-88 cm in women); and tall (more than 102 cm in men and more than 88 cm in women).

In 2015-2016, 28% of participants were prefragile, 1% were weak, and 70.5% were strong. Overall, almost 51 percent of the strong and 55 percent of those who are pre-vulnerable were women.

While participants in both the strong and pre-fragile/fragile groups gained weight and enlarged their waist during the observation period, the strong group had more participants with normal BMI and waist circumference at the start of the observation period.

Obesity is also associated with a host of other health risks.

The NHS website states: “It is very important to take action to combat obesity, as not only does it cause significant physical changes, but it can also lead to a number of serious and potentially life-threatening conditions.”

These include type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease, certain types of cancer such as breast and colon cancer, and stroke.

Obesity can also affect your quality of life and lead to mental health issues such as depression and low self-esteem.