Alternative Names body changes associated with age, age-related changes in body shape
Definition Normal changes in body shape gradually occur as a person gets older.
What is the information for this topic? Many people are concerned with the changes in their body shape as they age. There are things that people may do that both slow and speed up these changes.
The body is made up of many different materials. These include fat, muscle, bone, water and other substances. As one gets older, the amount and location of these materials change. This is obvious when comparing a small child, a middle-aged adult and an older adult.
There are many examples of normal age-related changes in the body shape.
Fat is increasingly deposited toward the centre of the body. Much of this fat is deposited around the organs inside the abdomen.
Fat under the skin is decreased.
The amount of muscle in the body decreases.
The width of the shoulders decreases.
The width of the hips increases.
Many organs, such as the liver, kidneys and brain, lose some of their cells.
Bones lose some of their minerals, such as calcium.
The body contains a smaller amount of water.
Height decreases with age. A decrease of roughly one centimetre for every 10 years after the age of 40 is expected.
Weight decreases with age. Men usually begin to lose weight around 55 years of age. Women begin to lose weight about 65 years of age, but at a slower rate than in men.
The changes in total body water may make elderly people more likely to get dehydrated. The decreased muscle mass in the legs and changes in body shape can affect balance, walking and mobility. It is important to remember that ageing is a gradual decline or ageing that affects the entire body.
There are many age-related changes that cannot be prevented. However, certain lifestyle changes may help to reduce age-related changes. Lifestyle changes thought to help slow age-related changes in body shape include:
Author: James Broomfield, MD Reviewer: eknowhow Medical Review Panel Editor: Dr John Hearne Last Updated: 6/09/2005 Contributors Potential conflict of interest information for reviewers available on request
