How did Wang, a 68-year-old man, reverse his "weight crisis"?

How did Wang, a 68-year-old man, reverse his "weight crisis"?Wang, a 68-year-old man, is still very fit. Every morning, he appears on time at the fitness square in his community, practicing Tai Chi with his old friends

How did Wang, a 68-year-old man, reverse his "weight crisis"?

Wang, a 68-year-old man, is still very fit. Every morning, he appears on time at the fitness square in his community, practicing Tai Chi with his old friends. Many neighbors envy Wang's good health and often ask him for his secret to longevity. Wang always laughs and says: "Nothing special, just pay attention to diet and exercise." But in fact, Wang has a secret he hasn't told anyone. More than ten years ago, he went through a life-threatening health crisis that completely changed his lifestyle.

It was an ordinary weekend when Wang suddenly felt chest pain and difficulty breathing. He was rushed to the hospital and diagnosed with acute myocardial infarction. Fortunately, he received timely treatment. During his recovery, Professor Zheng, the attending physician, spoke earnestly to Wang: "You are 55 years old now, and weight control at this age is very important. According to the latest research, maintaining a proper weight range can significantly reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and prolong life."

Wang was confused and couldn't help asking: "What is the appropriate weight then?" Professor Zheng smiled mysteriously and said: "I'm afraid you have to go on a journey with me to find the answer."

Thus, Wang embarked on an incredible journey of "weight exploration." He followed Professor Zheng to visit longevity villages across the country, investigating the lifestyle habits of numerous healthy elderly people. In this process, they gradually discovered some interesting patterns.

First, they noticed that long-living elders generally maintain a moderate weight. In a centenarian village in Guizhou, 90-year-old Li Grandma was thin but full of energy. She climbed the mountain to pick tea every day, her light steps like a young girl. Li Grandma told them: "The elders here don't like to eat too much, we only eat seven points full for each meal."

In the longevity region of Fujian, they met 86-year-old Zhang Grandpa. Although Zhang Grandpa was slightly overweight, he moved freely and walked several kilometers in the terraced fields every day. When asked about his eating habits, Zhang Grandpa laughed and said: "People here like to eat fish, one small fish every day, to supplement protein and omega-3 fatty acids."

Through extensive research and data analysis, Professor Zheng finally reached a preliminary conclusion: For people over 55, maintaining a weight within the BMI range of 22-25 may be ideal. This range is neither too thin, leading to malnutrition, nor too fat, increasing the risk of chronic diseases.

Wang pondered for a moment: "So that's it! My current weight..." He stepped onto the scale. The result displayed: 75 kg, height 170 cm, BMI 26. "Looks like I need to lose some weight." Wang said with a smile.

From then on, Wang began his weight loss plan. He persisted in walking for an hour every day, and also paid more attention to controlling his diet. Gradually, his weight dropped to 68 kg, and his BMI reached the ideal 23.5. To his surprise, as he lost weight, he felt lighter and his blood pressure returned to normal.

Wang's changes drew the attention of his neighbors. Everyone asked him for the secret to maintaining health. So, Wang decided to open a "Healthy Living Club" in his community, sharing his experience with more people.

In the club, Wang not only shared his story but also invited Professor Zheng to give a professional lecture. Professor Zheng introduced the latest research results to everyone, emphasizing the importance of maintaining an ideal weight after 55.

He cited a large-scale study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) [1], which followed more than 1.9 million people for 20 years and found that among those over 55, those with a BMI of 22-25 had the longest average lifespan. Another study published in The Lancet [2] also supports this view, indicating that for older adults, mild overweight may be more beneficial to health than being underweight.

Professor Zheng also emphasized that while BMI is an important indicator, it is not the only one. Waist circumference, body fat percentage, and other indicators are also important. He advised everyone to measure these indicators regularly to comprehensively assess their physical condition.

In the club, Wang met many like-minded friends. There was Zhao, a recently retired bank manager, who was determined to lose weight for her health; Li, a sales director who frequently traveled on business, wanted to improve his sub-health condition; and Chen, a retired athlete over 70 years old, who was still energetic and shared his experience of maintaining health. They encouraged each other and made progress together.

Zhao successfully lost 10 kg in six months by adjusting her diet; Li developed the habit of walking daily, not only losing weight but also improving work efficiency; Chen became an example for everyone, proving the importance of maintaining an ideal weight for health with his own experience.

However, not everyone can easily reach their ideal weight. There was Aunt Wu in the club who, despite trying to control her diet, couldn't lose weight. Professor Zheng recommended that she go to the hospital for a comprehensive examination. It turned out that her metabolic problems were caused by hypothyroidism. After receiving the correct treatment, Aunt Wu's weight finally began to decrease slowly.

This case reminded everyone that weight problems may hide various health issues. Professor Zheng emphasized that if you encounter difficulties in adjusting your weight, be sure to seek medical attention promptly and follow the guidance of professional doctors.

Over time, Wang's "Healthy Living Club" became increasingly popular in the community. Not only senior citizens, but more and more middle-aged and young people also began to pay attention to their weight and health. They realized that a healthy lifestyle should be cultivated from a young age, laying the foundation for a healthy life in the future.

On the first anniversary of the club's establishment, Wang organized a health run. To everyone's surprise, not only club members participated, but also many community residents joined. Looking at the lively scene, Wang was deeply moved: "Who would have thought that a small weight number could bring about such great changes?"

Professor Zheng patted Wang on the shoulder and said with a smile: "This is not just a story about weight, but a story about the awakening of health awareness. Each of you is a protagonist, writing your own health legend."

In the end, let's return to the initial question: What is the ideal weight after 55? The answer may not be a fixed number, but a healthy range that suits you.

What is important is that we realize the importance of weight management, find our own "ideal weight" based on our own situation, with scientific guidance. As Wang said: "Health is the most precious wealth, and maintaining an ideal weight is adding value to this wealth."

Let's all work together to write a more exciting chapter for our health!

References:

[1] Global BMI Mortality Collaboration. Body-mass index and all-cause mortality: individual-participant-data meta-analysis of 239 prospective studies in four continents. Lancet. 2016;388(10046):776-786.

[2] Winter JE, MacInnis RJ, Wattanapenpaiboon N, Nowson CA. BMI and all-cause mortality in older adults: a meta-analysis. Am J Clin Nutr. 2014;99(4):875-890.

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