Lose Weight at Any Age. (cover story)

WEIGHT loss; MUSCLE mass; WEIGHT gain; WHOLE grain foods; DRINKING (Physiology); MUFFINS

"As we get older, our muscle mass decreases, which works to slow down our metabolism", says Karen E. Gibbs, M.D., a bariatric surgeon at Staten Island University Hospital in New York City. During pregnancy, the body requires more calories, and as a result metabolism increases, says Nicholas Azinge, M.D., an assistant professor of medicine at Howard Medicine in Washington, DC. Thyroxine (T4) is a hormone governing the thyroid gland, and low levels of it can indicate hypothyroidism, often diagnosed in women in their 40s, says Dr. Azinge, adding that T4 and triiodothyronine (T3) help regulate metabolism and energy use. YOUR ACTION PLAN HAVE YOUR HORMONES CHECKED Ask your physician to test your hormone levels to make sure imbalances are not sabotaging your weight-loss efforts. [Extracted from the article]

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