They can live up to 100 years: scientists say they have found the secret of longevity for women

Many women make several attempts to lose weight throughout their lives and look for different ways to lose weight, in part in the hope of ensuring their longevity. However, scientists have found that a completely different approach to weight can extend life when it comes to women in old age.

According to the Mail Online, it is not weight loss that can help you live to 100, but maintaining your weight stability in adulthood. These conclusions were reached by researchers at the University of California, San Diego, who studied data from more than 50,000 women aged 60 and older. They compared those who kept their weight generally stable for three years with those who lost at least 5% of their body weight.

As it turned out, older women who lost weight were 38% less likely to live to their 100th birthday. They were 33% less likely to live to be 90 and 35% less likely to live to be 95. This was mostly true for those who lost weight unintentionally due to stress, health problems, or weakness.

Moreover, a stable weight prolonged life even for those study participants who were overweight. However, weight gain of 5% or more in old age did not affect women's life expectancy. However, it is known that weight gain in young or middle age leads to a reduction in life expectancy.

Dr. Aladdin Shadayab, one of the study's authors, said the findings confirm that a stable weight is the key to longevity for older women. "If aging women lose weight even though they are not trying to do so, it could be a warning sign of poor health and a predictor of reduced life expectancy," he explained. In the event of unexpected weight loss, the researchers advised older women to see a doctor to find out why. Although it may not always be related to health problems.

The researchers' sample included 54437 women aged 61 to 81. They agreed to participate in a large medical study in the United States. A little more than half of them lived to be 90 years old, and about 9% crossed the 100-year mark.

According to scientists, the loss of more than 5% of body weight by a woman over 60, if it happens unintentionally, has the greatest impact on life expectancy. At the same time, surveys have shown that among those who lost weight involuntarily, about a third lost weight due to illness, almost 29% had a decreased appetite, and 23% cited stress as the reason.

The researchers also compared the effects of unintentional and purposeful weight loss. It turned out that those who lost weight without making any effort had a 51% lower chance of living to the age of 90. While those who lost weight intentionally, usually by changing their diet or exercising, were only 17% less likely to do so.

Earlier, OBOZREVATEL talked about eight habits that will help prolong life - you can start at any age.

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