Comprehensive Physiology Wiley Online Library

Aging, Fat Metabolism, and Adiposity

Full Article on Wiley Online Library



Abstract

The sections in this article are:

1 Fat Mass
1.1 Direct Methods of Measuring Fat Mass
1.2 Indirect Methods of Measuring Fat Mass
1.3 Measurement of Body Fat Distribution
1.4 Recommendations on Fat Mass Measurements
2 Adiposity and Age‐Associated Diseases
2.1 Glucose Intolerance
2.2 Obesity
2.3 Serum lipoproteins and Atherosclerosis
Figure 1. Figure 1.

Prevalence of overweight, United States, 1960–1980.

Division of Health Examination Statistics, National Center for Health Statistics, Washington, D.C.
Figure 2. Figure 2.

The U‐shaped relationships between BMI and mortality ratio. Data are derived from the Build Study 29. The curves were constructed from the quadratic relationship between the two variables. A mortality ratio of 100 represents the average or expected mortality for the specific age group. The nadirs of the curves represent BMI associated with minimal mortality. The two points at which the curves intersect the 100 mortality ratio line represent those BMIs associated with mortality ratios less than the average; those BMIs can, therefore, be used to define a recommended weight range.

Figure 3. Figure 3.

The effect of age on the BMI associated with lowest mortality. Minimal mortality points were computed for each age‐sex group as indicated in Table 5. The regression lines were computed separately for men (—) and for women (—). Note that there is a strong effect of age on the BMI associated with the lowest mortality and that the regression lines for men and women are nearly identical.

Figure 4. Figure 4.

A four‐compartment functional model for body composition.

From Pierson, R. N., Jr., Wang, J., Body Composition, 167, in Section A: Nuclear Medicine, Vol. I, Spencer, R. P., Sect. Ed., in Clinical Laboratory Science Series, Seligson, D., Editor‐in‐Chief. Boca Raton, Florida, 1977. With permission
Figure 5. Figure 5.

Magnetic resonance images of the thigh showing differences in total muscle, intramuscular fat, subcutaneous fat, and bone between a young woman athlete (A) and an old sedentary woman (B). From Evans, W. J., Meredith, C. N., Exercise and Nutrition in the Elderly.

In Nutrition, Aging and the Elderly, Munro H. N. and Danford, D. E., Eds. Plenum Publishing, New York, 1989. With permission
Figure 6. Figure 6.

Changes in lipids and lipoproteins in men and women with respect to age and obesity. Adapted from Assman, G., Schulte, H., Obesity and Hyperlipidemia: Results from the Prospective Cardiovascular Munster (PROCAM) Study.

In Obesity, Bjorntorp, P. and Brodoff, B. N., Eds. J. P. Lippincott Philadelphia, 1992


Figure 1.

Prevalence of overweight, United States, 1960–1980.

Division of Health Examination Statistics, National Center for Health Statistics, Washington, D.C.


Figure 2.

The U‐shaped relationships between BMI and mortality ratio. Data are derived from the Build Study 29. The curves were constructed from the quadratic relationship between the two variables. A mortality ratio of 100 represents the average or expected mortality for the specific age group. The nadirs of the curves represent BMI associated with minimal mortality. The two points at which the curves intersect the 100 mortality ratio line represent those BMIs associated with mortality ratios less than the average; those BMIs can, therefore, be used to define a recommended weight range.



Figure 3.

The effect of age on the BMI associated with lowest mortality. Minimal mortality points were computed for each age‐sex group as indicated in Table 5. The regression lines were computed separately for men (—) and for women (—). Note that there is a strong effect of age on the BMI associated with the lowest mortality and that the regression lines for men and women are nearly identical.



Figure 4.

A four‐compartment functional model for body composition.

From Pierson, R. N., Jr., Wang, J., Body Composition, 167, in Section A: Nuclear Medicine, Vol. I, Spencer, R. P., Sect. Ed., in Clinical Laboratory Science Series, Seligson, D., Editor‐in‐Chief. Boca Raton, Florida, 1977. With permission


Figure 5.

Magnetic resonance images of the thigh showing differences in total muscle, intramuscular fat, subcutaneous fat, and bone between a young woman athlete (A) and an old sedentary woman (B). From Evans, W. J., Meredith, C. N., Exercise and Nutrition in the Elderly.

In Nutrition, Aging and the Elderly, Munro H. N. and Danford, D. E., Eds. Plenum Publishing, New York, 1989. With permission


Figure 6.

Changes in lipids and lipoproteins in men and women with respect to age and obesity. Adapted from Assman, G., Schulte, H., Obesity and Hyperlipidemia: Results from the Prospective Cardiovascular Munster (PROCAM) Study.

In Obesity, Bjorntorp, P. and Brodoff, B. N., Eds. J. P. Lippincott Philadelphia, 1992
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Dariush Elahi, Marianne McAloon Dyke, Reubin Andres. Aging, Fat Metabolism, and Adiposity. Compr Physiol 2011, Supplement 28: Handbook of Physiology, Aging: 147-170. First published in print 1995. doi: 10.1002/cphy.cp110108