metabolics and body fat and age

"David" <my_usenet_acct.RemoveThis@hotmail.com> wrote in message news:381cqbF5i04huU1@individual.net...
> My doctor (DC & nutritionist) was recently gave me a reason why ideal body

Editing error. Omit "was" above.

> fat percentage goes up as we age. I don't remember it clearly, so I won't try
> to repeat it here.
>
> I think tables like that one you provided often come from averages, and unless they cite
> a convincing source (a study or studies, not an "expert" source), I wouldn't put much
> faith in it.
>
> The table implies that a 40-something man is unhealthy unless he's a bit chubby. Doesn't
> seem likely to me.

Since I am one, and am below their ideal range, but have no shortage of bodyfat.
 >> Stay informed about: metabolics and body fat and age 

It moves around too.
Its easier for middle age to accuulate on belly or thighs.
And migrates away from skin, making faces look older.
 >> Stay informed about: metabolics and body fat and age 

In article <3818rcF5h6cqoU1 RemoveThis @individual.net>, "Selene"
<PleaseSpamMe RemoveThis @yahoo.com> wrote:

> I'm reading this book on nutrition and protein, because I'm trying to figure
> out how to get more protein in my diet (d*mn fitday gram reporting).
> Anyway, the authors spend the first half of the book re-hashing the reason
> why we need more protein in our diets (and weightlifting in our lives) and,
> in general, it seems pretty okay. Then they present a table I found somewhat
> surprising.
>
> It's called "Ideal Body Fat Percentages" and right off, I guess I should
> have asked, "Whose ideal?"
>
> It goes on to say (and this probably won't look right in a proportional
> font)
> . Age Males Females
>
> . 10-30 12-18 20-26
>
> . 31-40 13-19 21-27
>
> . 41-50 14-20 22-28
>
> . 51-60 16-20 22-30
>
> . 61 + 17-21 22-31
>
>
> Having recently switched age groupings on this table, I was interested
> (startled) to note that 'ideal percentage' increases with age. Is there ANY
> reason for this? I mean, other than people's metabolism tends to slow down
> as they age so average weight increases. The authors (who are MDs) don't
> give a source for this table, so I dont' know if it's based on a metabolic
> function, a body need, or just averages of people they think look good.

Average for health probably.

I have no desire to be average.
 >> Stay informed about: metabolics and body fat and age 

khobman800 DeleteThis @REMOVEyahoo.com (Hobbes) wrote:
> "Selene" <PleaseSpamMe DeleteThis @yahoo.com> wrote:
>
>> I'm reading this book on nutrition and protein, because I'm trying to figure
>> out how to get more protein in my diet (d*mn fitday gram reporting).
>> Anyway, the authors spend the first half of the book re-hashing the reason
>> why we need more protein in our diets (and weightlifting in our lives) and,
>> in general, it seems pretty okay. Then they present a table I found somewhat
>> surprising.
>>
>> It's called "Ideal Body Fat Percentages" and right off, I guess I should
>> have asked, "Whose ideal?"
>>
>> It goes on to say (and this probably won't look right in a proportional
>> font)
>> . Age Males Females
>>
>> . 10-30 12-18 20-26
>>
>> . 31-40 13-19 21-27
>>
>> . 41-50 14-20 22-28
>>
>> . 51-60 16-20 22-30
>>
>> . 61 + 17-21 22-31
>>
>>
>> Having recently switched age groupings on this table, I was interested
>> (startled) to note that 'ideal percentage' increases with age. Is there ANY
>> reason for this? I mean, other than people's metabolism tends to slow down
>> as they age so average weight increases. The authors (who are MDs) don't
>> give a source for this table, so I dont' know if it's based on a metabolic
>> function, a body need, or just averages of people they think look good.
>
>Average for health probably.
>
>I have no desire to be average.

These number attempt to accomodate an inevitable increase in visceral
and intramuscular fat deposition that comes with age. I also suspect
that the "ideal" accounts for "average" musculature, which is probably
much less than seen amongst many in this group.
--

JMW
http://www.rustyiron.net
 >> Stay informed about: metabolics and body fat and age 

Selene wrote:
> I'm reading this book on nutrition and protein, because I'm trying to
> figure out how to get more protein in my diet (d*mn fitday gram
> reporting). Anyway, the authors spend the first half of the book
> re-hashing the reason why we need more protein in our diets (and
> weightlifting in our lives) and, in general, it seems pretty okay.
> Then they present a table I found somewhat surprising.
>
> It's called "Ideal Body Fat Percentages" and right off, I guess I
> should have asked, "Whose ideal?"
>
> It goes on to say (and this probably won't look right in a
> proportional font)
> . Age Males Females
>
> . 10-30 12-18 20-26
>
> . 31-40 13-19 21-27
>
> . 41-50 14-20 22-28
>
> . 51-60 16-20 22-30
>
> . 61 + 17-21 22-31
>
>
> Having recently switched age groupings on this table, I was interested
> (startled) to note that 'ideal percentage' increases with age. Is
> there ANY reason for this? I mean, other than people's metabolism
> tends to slow down as they age so average weight increases. The
> authors (who are MDs) don't give a source for this table, so I dont'
> know if it's based on a metabolic function, a body need, or just
> averages of people they think look good.
>
> Selene

Those numbers seem high to me. I'm 47 and 11.5% currently. When I was
16-18%, I was one fat bastard.
--
-Larry
 >> Stay informed about: metabolics and body fat and age 

Selene wrote:
> I'm reading this book on nutrition and protein, because I'm trying to
figure
> out how to get more protein in my diet (d*mn fitday gram reporting).
> Anyway, the authors spend the first half of the book re-hashing the
reason
> why we need more protein in our diets (and weightlifting in our
lives) and,
> in general, it seems pretty okay. Then they present a table I found
somewhat
> surprising.
>
> It's called "Ideal Body Fat Percentages" and right off, I guess I
should
> have asked, "Whose ideal?"
>
> It goes on to say (and this probably won't look right in a
proportional
> font)
> . Age Males Females
>
> . 10-30 12-18 20-26
>
> . 31-40 13-19 21-27
>
> . 41-50 14-20 22-28
>
> . 51-60 16-20 22-30
>
> . 61 + 17-21 22-31
>
>
> Having recently switched age groupings on this table, I was
interested
> (startled) to note that 'ideal percentage' increases with age. Is
there ANY
> reason for this? I mean, other than people's metabolism tends to
slow down
> as they age so average weight increases. The authors (who are MDs)
don't
> give a source for this table, so I dont' know if it's based on a
metabolic
> function, a body need, or just averages of people they think look
good.

Frankly, there are several reasons why the range they propose as
'ideal' for the aged is in error. One is a very valid reason supported
in the literature: adipokines. These are cytokine-like substances
produced and released from body fat that can play havoc with several
body systems as we age. A most important one is cardivascular function,
another is the brain.

Briefly, excess body fat (that threshold is not really determined, but
smaller than proposed above) induces what is refered to as 'chronic
inflammatory state' and has been associated with many physiological
dysfunctions and derangements in an aging population, indluding
diabetes, sarcopenia, CVD, and even Alzheimer's. This is supported by a
wealth of molecular biology and epidemiology data. And the studies
supporting this appear daily.

The only reasons I can see to retain a slightly higher resevoir of body
fat in the aged are few but noteworthy:
1. serves functions of temperature and mechanical insulation. Metabolic
rates usually decrease in the aged and their temperature control is not
as functional as in younger population. Old people fall down more. If
they have a layer of body fat, it does help to cushion falls and reduce
damage (bone breakage, etc).

2. Energy stores. Many older people lose their appetite and/or for
other reasons don't eat an adequate daily diet. Thus body fat serves as
a buffer for energy. It also has been documented to be an emergency
source of energy fuel during long-duration illness, surgery, etc. The
latter has been well documented: post-surgery patients, especially
aged, that are too lean have higher mortality rates.

Regardless, I would posit that >25% bodyfat is detrimental to a woman's
health in all age groups. A portion of the medical community now
suggests that it should be even lower.

Another factor to consider is body fat deposition: they offer no
distinction between visceral and subq fat. VF has more relevance to
health than SQF. And assumptions based on gender and age are misleading
for obvious reasons.
 >> Stay informed about: metabolics and body fat and age 

Selene wrote:

> Having recently switched age groupings on this table, I was
interested
> (startled) to note that 'ideal percentage' increases with age. Is
there ANY
> reason for this? I mean, other than people's metabolism tends to
slow down
> as they age so average weight increases. The authors (who are MDs)
don't
> give a source for this table, so I dont' know if it's based on a
metabolic
> function, a body need, or just averages of people they think look
good.

Read your last pp a bit closer:

'Ideal' is relative as you suggest. Their figures/ranges appear to more
accurately reflect current American 'averages', but not 'ideals'.
Obviously, they are not the same. As medical practitioners and
representatives of the medical community, they should be aware of the
distintions.

Regardless, as 'MDs' they should have either made this distinction
clear, or they are morons. (being surrounded by many MDs here, I don't
rule out the latter; in fact, there are several obese MDs here.).
 >> Stay informed about: metabolics and body fat and age