05/13/2021 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 05/13/2021 15:15
You might have heard about the dreaded 'middle-age spread.' In fact, your body does change in some unwelcome ways as you get older.
'Muscle mass decreases, which can slow the rate at which your body burns calories. You don't need quite as many calories as you did earlier in life,' explains Lauren Baker, DO, a family medicine provider at Main Line Health King of Prussia. 'While this happens to men and women, ladies have the added difficulty of menopause, which often causes fat to be distributed around the stomach.'
Your metabolism may begin slowing as early as your 20s, but most women notice a change as they approach 40. 'It's not uncommon to start putting on about a pound a year,' says Dr. Baker. That may not seem like much, but it adds up over time. Fortunately, you can take action to keep the pounds away:
Main Line Health serves patients at hospitals and health centers throughout the western suburbs of Philadelphia. To schedule an appointment with a specialist at Main Line Health, call 1.866.CALL.MLH (225.5654) or use our secure online appointment request form.