Male weight loss and longevity in old age: Analyzing the dual health risks of weight loss

Why do men need to lose weight more than women?

Dietary expert Colette LeFall, through years of research, believes that the key to women's longer lifespan compared to men is that women tend to accumulate fat in their hips, thighs, and abdomen, which poses less of a threat to life. In contrast, men tend to accumulate fat in areas with blood vessels, which poses a serious threat to life and is one of the major reasons why men die earlier than women. Therefore, weight loss is more important for men than women.

Why is obesity more detrimental to the elderly?

As the saying goes, "To live a long life, stay thin in old age." Data shows that after age 40-45, for every pound of weight gain, the mortality rate increases by 1%, while those who are 15% below the normal weight have the lowest mortality rate. A 1980 survey of 100 centenarians over 90 years old found none to be obese. Among centenarians worldwide, not a single one is obese.

Obesity is not a good thing. It not only leads to limited mobility, slowed reaction time, and low work efficiency, but it can also cause many diseases. From a cardiovascular perspective, fat deposits in the abdominal cavity can cause the diaphragm to rise, thus hindering breathing. A large amount of fat surrounding the heart can also affect diastole, leading to decreased cardiac function. Increased fatty tissue in the lungs can impair alveolar gas exchange.

From a hemorheological perspective, obesity can increase the body's oxygen consumption by 30-40%, easily leading to palpitations, shortness of breath, heat intolerance, excessive sweating, and fatigue; hence the common term "puffy obesity."

Epidemiological surveys have found that the most common heart disease caused by obesity is coronary heart disease, with obese individuals being 2-4 times more likely to develop it than lean individuals. Coronary heart disease accounts for more than half of all obesity-related deaths each year. Statistics show that the incidence of hypertension in obese individuals is 20-50%, and the risk increases with weight. Obesity can also cause hyperlipidemia, which leads to metabolic disorders, decreased glucose tolerance, and elevated blood lipids. This can easily promote the formation of arteriosclerosis and cause lung diseases, resulting in pulmonary hypertension, ventricular hypertrophy, and eventually heart failure. Some people develop arthritis due to excessive weight, which puts too much strain on the supporting joints.