We are burning fewer calories, yet our eating habits often go unchanged. Calories that are not burned as fuel are stored as fat. Loss of muscle mass and increase in body fat is a slow, insidious process. This weight gain seems almost indiscernible until one day we realize we can't fit into a favorite skirt or pair of pants. One answer might be that between the ages of 25 and 40 a significant portion of time is spent raising families and building careers.
People become less active as they become busier.
Experts disagree whether this age-related weight gain is 'normal' or a sign of declining levels of physical activity. He Spread, She Spread Gender differences in weight gain are evident in the weight distribution of men and women. Just because a man's stomach is taut as opposed to soft is not necessarily a sign of fitness according to Dr. Michael Hamilton, Medical Director for Obesity Treatment at Duke University Medical Center. The tight protruding belly may pose more serious health risks than those irresistible love handles. Visceral fat is found deep inside the abdominal cavity taking up space reserved for vital organs.