How Metabolism Changes After 40 — And Why Weight Feels Harder to Manage

Many adults notice that maintaining a healthy weight becomes more challenging with age, even when eating habits and activity levels haven’t changed much.

While it’s easy to blame motivation, experts often point to natural metabolic changes that occur over time. These changes can influence how the body uses energy, stores fat, and responds to food.

What Actually Changes?

As we age, several factors may affect metabolism, including:

• Lower muscle mass, which can reduce resting energy use
• Changes in hormonal balance
• Differences in how the body handles blood sugar
• Reduced daily movement compared to earlier years

Individually, these changes may seem small. Together, they can make weight management feel frustrating — especially around the midsection.

Looking Beyond Diets

Many adults are moving away from extreme diets and instead focusing on supportive wellness strategies that work with the body as lifestyle and age-related changes occur.

Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and does not provide medical advice. Individual results may vary.