Does Weight Gain Play a Part in Aging?

At Modern Age, our mission is to help people feel their best at any age. Our patients’ goals sit at the center of our approach as a healthcare practice, and weight loss is a common concern for many of the people we work with. We also know from in depth clinical research that there is a strong connection between a healthy weight and healthy aging. Modern Age now offers prescription GLP-1 medications, including Wegovy and Ozempic, for weight loss. These prescriptions are part of a comprehensive program to help people lose weight and achieve better health now and in the future. As people age, their metabolism tends to become less efficient—a phenomenon known as deregulated nutrient sensing—which can make it easier to gain weight and can even lead to obesity. This can lead to a number of issues, including an increased risk of developing certain diseases, such as heart disease and cancer, which can lead to an overall reduction in life expectancy. 

At the heart of most weight struggles is a dysfunctional metabolism. At the most basic level, having a properly functioning metabolism means nutrition is efficiently converted to energy, or stored in the right place. With metabolic dysfunction, nutrients like carbohydrates and fats are not efficiently processed, resulting in buildup elsewhere in the body. This results in weight gain, but also in damage to blood vessels and organs like the liver.

GLP-1 medications  are a new class of drugs that have been shown to be effective in addressing metabolism problems. These drugs have been proven to generate clinically significant weight loss, approximately 15% on average. Perhaps even more excitingly, these drugs also show promise at improving blood pressure, fatty liver disease, triglycerides, and even reducing the risk of heart attacks. As a clinic focused on healthy aging and longevity we are excited about the potential for these drugs to promote broad-based physiological changes that will drive long-term health.

But importantly, a healthy weight is not just about metabolism. There are other factors that can influence weight, such as inflammation, hormones, and lifestyle choices. At Modern Age, we believe it's important to take a holistic approach to help people achieve their goals, which is why we created our Aging Wellness Assessment. This assessment measures over 55 biomarkers relevant to all key areas of aging, not just metabolic health. Using this comprehensive view of a patient's health allows us to help people achieve weight results that are sustainable. If you think that your weight may be a factor that is negatively impacting your healthspan, you’ll begin by taking our Aging Wellness Assessment, which will provide you and our clinical team a 360-degree view on your metabolism and overall health. If you are a candidate, we will recommend our Weight Loss program and GLP-1 prescriptions. 

At Modern Age, you can feel confident that you are working with a partner who has the toolkit to help you achieve your health goals. We look forward to working with you!