Is it really good that “a thousand pieces of gold can’t buy old and thin”? How can the elderly save their “meat”?

Because of the epidemic control, Ms. Zhang has not returned to her hometown for three months. Finally, when the policy was relaxed, Ms. Zhang couldn’t wait to drive home. When she got home, her mother told her something, which almost made her so angry that she couldn’t eat .

It turned out that Ms. Zhang’s father didn’t know where he heard that the elderly should be thinner to be healthy, so he stopped eating meat at every meal, and only ate some vegetables and staple food, no matter how his mother persuaded him. Listen, I also advised my mother to follow her to lose weight. Ms. Zhang felt that her father’s body had been maintained quite well, and there was no need to toss, but her father did not listen. Ms. Zhang also discovered a detail, that is, when his father went up the steps, his knees trembled a little, as if he could no longer support it.

In the past, my father’s face was ruddy, he spoke loudly, walked very fast, and carried a hoe to work in the field every morning. His energy was very good, but this time, he clearly felt his father’s complexion. It’s not very good-looking. In rural terms, it is “a disheveled face”. Is it better for the elderly to be thinner? Ms. Zhang was lost in thought.

“Thin money can’t buy old people to be thin”, how thin is called “thin”? What is the standard for being fat?

What standard is used to measure thin or fat? Many people think that they are fat, just because they are a little far from their ideal body, or they are not satisfied with their weight. This subjective perception of fat and thin is not necessarily correct. There is a formula that can judge whether a person is fat or not, and that is the BMI index.

BMI=weight(kg)/height(m)^2

< 18.5 too light

18.5-23.9 normal

24-27.9 Overweight

>28 Obese

Below the normal level can be called thin, and above the overweight level can be called fat. However, is such a standard necessarily correct? We all know that some bodybuilders have a lot of muscle on their bodies, and may be overweight or obese by formula, but that weight is provided by muscle, not fat, so we can’t say that such people are unhealthy. Conversely, a person with a BMI index of less than 18.5 may also have less body fat, so he looks thinner, but actually has normal muscle content in his body.

In this way, the BMI index formula is actually flawed and does not take into account the issue of muscle mass. Therefore, while understanding this formula, it is recommended that you look at your body fat percentage separately. It is the most honest standard of fat and thin.

Male body fat percentage formula:

a=Waist(cm)*0.74

g=weight(kg)*0.082+44.74

body fat percentage=(ag)/weight*100%

< p>Female body fat percentage formula:

a=waist circumference(cm)*0.74

g=weight(kg)*0.082+34.89

Body fat rate=(ag)/weight*100%

The calculation result is more than 25% for men and more than 32% for women. The fat in the body may affect health and bring about various diseases and death. and increased cancer risk. Then if it does not exceed this range, our muscle mass is qualified.

The elderly have too little muscle mass, what are the effects on the body?

If the muscle content is too small, the stability of the elderly will become poor, easy to fall and fracture, and cannot respond flexibly in the event of emergencies. In the event of a fracture, the consequences are no less serious than that of heart disease and stroke. Such elderly people have poor physical fitness, walk very slowly, have little energy, are easily fatigued, are afraid of cold, and are prone to joint disease and skin disease. The skin’s resistance is relatively poor, and it is easy to lose moisture, so it often itches and flakes.

At the same time, I should also reflect on why my body is so thin, whether it is because the spleen and stomach are not transported well, or whether the diet is not healthy. I often eat vegetarian food and refuse to eat meat. Calcium, lack of multivitamins. It is not good for stabilizing chronic diseases and preventing cancer.

Older people who are slightly overweight are more likely to live longer. How can the elderly save their flesh?

A study in the Annals of Epidemiology found that maintaining a slightly fat body in old age is more beneficial to longevity, and another study noted that strong>Obesity after age 85 had little effect on mortality risk. That is to say, when you reach old age, you don’t have to think about losing weight, worrying that you are too fat, and it is not advisable to pursue a slim body.

Why? Because the rate of muscle reduction in old age is declining every year, and there is already very little weight loss and dieting, it will make muscles less and become unhealthy. What should be done at this time is to save the body’s meat well, delay muscle aging and atrophy .

Seniors are advised to do some exercise within their ability, a combination of aerobic and muscle training. For example, jogging to deepen squats, push-ups and cycling, brisk walking and dumbbell lifting, the muscles will become stronger, the physical fitness will be higher, the joints will be more flexible, and the ability to resist risks will be greater.

You can usually eat some foods that promote muscle growth, such as chicken, fish balls, eggs, shrimp, etc., vegetables, and meatAlso eat, but also eat scientifically and reasonably, do not eat a lot of fat. Soy products and grains should also be supplemented in moderation. The ingredients in them help the growth of bone cells and help the elderly to strengthen and strengthen bones to a certain extent. Even if you are very fat, you must ensure the ratio of carbohydrates and water. You must eat staple food. The ratio of protein and fat is equal. You cannot completely avoid fat and eat nothing at all.

If the body of the elderly is very thin and the supplementation of diet and exercise is slow, medicine can be administered under the guidance of a doctor when necessary, and the state of weakness and fatigue can be improved by rationally supplementing hormones. If the elderly have chronic diseases, they should also take medicine regularly to actively prevent nerve and blood vessel degeneration.

In short, the elderly need to know what the standard of fat and thin is. Through the comprehensive calculation of BMI index and body fat rate, if both of them are lower than the normal level, they are really too thin. , exercise, medication and other methods to adjust in time, and finally can achieve a slightly fat state is better.

References:

[1] Stop losing weight blindly! Scientists have found that “slightly fat” people live longer in 73 years. 17

[2] Body fat rate, the most honest standard for fat and thinness·Guangming.com.2021-04-13

[3] “Health Science Popularization” Thin”? Not necessarily! Old and thin does not equal true health·Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine Nursing.2022-01-31

[4] Is it true that “a thousand dollars can’t buy old and thin”? Middle-aged and elderly people really The thinner the better? Headline refuting rumors.2021-02-02