Here's why belly fat is more common as we age, and 3 ways to prevent it
More people are focused on staying healthy and fit as they grow older — but it's true that it can become more challenging with age.
New research has revealed that cellular changes during the aging process can cause belly fat — and that's exacerbated by stress and sleep issues that contribute to weight gain.
"People often lose muscle and gain body fat as they age — even when their body weight remains the same," study author Qiong (Annabel) Wang, Ph.D., an assistant professor in the Department of Molecular & Cellular Endocrinology at City of Hope, said in a press release.
Published in the journal Science, the preclinical research involved experiments on mice that were later confirmed with human cells.
Researchers focused on a group of stem cells called adipocyte progenitor cells (APCs) within the fatty tissue responsible for age-related weight gain.
When they transplanted these cells from mice of various ages into another group of younger mice, they noticed the creation of large numbers of fat cells within the younger mice.
However, when they transplanted a batch of cells from young mice into old mice, they did not see the same effect.
The results confirmed that older stem cells are more likely to lead to new fat cells, regardless of the age of the host receiving them, the press release noted.
"While most adult stem cells' capacity to grow wanes with age, the opposite holds true with APCs — aging unlocks these cells' power to evolve and spread," said Adolfo Garcia-Ocana, chair of the Department of Molecular & Cellular Endocrinology at City of Hope, in the press release.
Aging also changes these APCs into yet another group of cells called committed preadipocytes, age-specific (CP-As), which actively churn out new fat cells.
Humans have a "signaling pathway" — a chemical reaction that controls how the body makes cells — called the leukemia inhibitory factor receptor (LIFR), experts said.
"Our research indicates that LIFR plays a crucial role in triggering CP-As to create new fat cells and expand belly fat in older mice," Wang said in the same release.
Despite the effects of aging, there are steps people can take to prevent expanding waistlines, according to Dr. Sajad Zalzala, co-founder and chief medical officer of AgelessRx in Detroit, Michigan.
"As we age, our ability to maintain lean muscle mass decreases, which contributes to metabolic slowdown and increased fat storage, particularly around the abdomen," Zalzala, who was not involved in the City of Hope study, told Fox News Digital.
He recommends starting the day with 20 to 30 grams of protein, which can be found in foods like Greek yogurt, protein shakes and eggs.
Eating protein at the beginning of the day keeps you full longer, stabilizes blood sugar and encourages muscle maintenance, according to the doctor.
"Chronically high cortisol levels, which can be driven by poor sleep or stress, promote fat storage, especially around the waist," Zalzala noted.
People should aim for seven to nine hours of quality sleep per night, according to experts.
Zalzala also recommends stress-reduction strategies like walking, mindfulness and breathwork, calling them "powerful tools for fat regulation and metabolic health."
"The study reminds us that aging adipose tissue behaves differently — it's more inflammatory and prone to dysfunction," said Zalzala.
"Minimizing added sugars and highly processed carbs (white bread, pastries, sugary drinks) reduces insulin resistance and fat accumulation, particularly visceral fat that sits deep in the belly."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CNN
6 hours ago
- CNN
Japan-based company is poised for its moon-landing attempt
Update: Date: Title: Ispace's CEO is "very confident" success is on the way Content: Takeshi Hakamada, who founded Ispace in 2010 and serves as the company's CEO, told CNN last month that he is far more optimistic about today's landing attempt than he was going into Ispace's first landing attempt in 2023. 'I'm very confident, more confident than (during) Mission 1,' Hakamada told CNN in May. Hakamada added that he's not a very emotional person, so cold feet and sleepless nights aren't necessarily part of his pre-landing routine. 'I'm not the person emotion so much. I don't feel any peace or joy sometimes — most of the times,' Hakamada, who says he was inspired to puruse an aerospace career by the 'Star Wars' movies, told CNN. 'The importance of this space business is keep going.' Update: Date: Title: Reslience is carrying science — and art Content: Tucked alongside a molecule-splitting science experiment and radiation monitor, Resilience is carrying a couple lighthearted pieces of commemorative art. One includes commemorative coin-sized plates designed by UNESCO and US-based Barrelhand that will 'transport and safeguard 275 distinct languages and cultural treasures on the lunar surface.' Another is from Swedish artist Mikael Genberg, who contributed a miniature red house dubbed the 'Moonhouse.' Genberg has been aiming to put a red house on the lunar surface for more than two decades. 'They wanted to send something to the moon, so there was a good coincidence,' Ispace chief financial officer Jumpei Nozaki told CNN in January, noting that Ispace's European branch in Luxembourg found out about the art piece and worked to put it on the Resilience lander. The pieces may join a slew of other novelties, art pieces and curiosities that have been part of past lunar missions. A Jeff Koons sculpture series called 'Moon Phases,' for example, flew on the Odysseus lunar lander from Houston-based Intuitive Machines last year, becoming the first 'authorized' work of art on the moon. The Moonhouse on board Resilience aims to be an 'expression of humanity's ability to achieve the seemingly unattainable through boundary-crossing thoughts and collaborations and maybe a symbol of humanity's eternal and collective striving; a perspective on existence and (an) eye towards Earth,' according to a web page about the art project. Update: Date: Title: Here's how (another) failed landing attempt could affect Ispace Content: Ispace's roots began in the Google Lunar XPrize, which in the 2010s challenged the private-sector to put robotic landers on the moon for a $20 million grand prize. The compeititon ended in 2018, however, with no winner. 'That was very good program for me to start things here,' Ispace CEO and founder Takeshi Hakamada told CNN in May. 'We survived the Lunar XPrize and and then that created credibility for the next fundraising (effort).' After the competition folded, Ispace kept going, bringing on new investors. And just before its first lunar landing attempt in 2023, the company went public, listing on Tokyo's stock exchange. When Ispace's first landing attempt failed in 2023, crashing to the moon due to a software issue, the company's stock price shed more than half its value. And Ispace could face some significant financial struggles if today's landing attempt is unsuccessful, Ispace chief financial officer Jumpei Nozaki told CNN in January. 'If we do not successfully land on the moon, maybe there are going to be some very strong headwinds against us. It will be reflected to our share price immediately,' Nozaki said. Still, Nozaki added, the company raised money last year around the world, including from one US investor, that should keep the company funded through a third lunar landing attempt. Update: Date: Title: Resilience is aiming to land farther north than other recent missions Content: We're in the midst of renewed space race, with both the public and private sector eager to send robots to further explore the lunar surface. The modern moon dash was largely kicked off by China, which safely landed its first Chang'e spacecraft in 2013 — roughly 40 years after any vehicle, crewed or uncrewed, had soft-landed on the lunar surface. Much of the lunar exploration focus has been on the south pole, as the region is expected to be home to vast stores of water ice that can be converted to drinking water or fuel for rockets. But the vehicles that have made soft landings so far have explored a variety of regions. Update: Date: Title: Soft landing on the moon is still really hard. Here's why Content: All lunar landing attempts — even missions such as this with no humans on board — bring with them an element of risk and awe. Success is far from guaranteed. Overall, more than half of all lunar landing attempts have ended in failure, tough odds for a feat humanity first pulled off nearly 60 years ago. While technology has advanced in the past five decades, the fundamental challenges of landing on the moon remain the same. Here's what Resilience has had to overcome — and what it has yet to face. Update: Date: Title: What went wrong during Ispace's last lunar landing attempt Content: Ispace's first lunar lander, referred to by its model name, Hakuto-R, made a dramatic crash landing on the moon in 2023. When the estimated landing time came and went, and mission controllers had spent about 10 minutes troubleshooting why the lander hadn't sent a signal, it was safe to assume the golf-cart-size vehicle had not made a gentle touchdown, Ispace CEO Takeshi Hakamada, told CNN. A NASA satellite later photographed the crash site. Ispace then spent weeks poring over the data, trying to pinpoint what went wrong. 'Almost everything performed perfectly — propulsion system, communication system, and also structure,' Ispace chief financial officer Jumpei Nozaki told CNN in January about the first Hakuto-R mission. 'The issue was the software and the altitude measurement has some issue.' Essentially, Hakuto-R had miscalculated its altitude, and the vehicle ended up running out of fuel before touching down on the surface. This time around, executives are far more confident. A software patch is in place. And mission controllers are hoping to get confirmation of a smooth touchdown within a minute or so after the 3:17 p.m. ET expected landing time. Update: Date: Title: Here's what to expect during today's moon-landing attempt Content: Resilience, a spacecraft built by Tokyo-based Ispace that could redeem the company after a failed moon-landing attempt in 2023, is ready to make its final descent to the lunar surface. Ispace has broken down its mission in to series of 10 goals or anticipated 'successes.' Resilience has already notched through the first eight of those steps. All that's left is the landing sequence and the harrowing moment of touchdown. Here are the key moments to watch out for: • During the touchdown attempt, Ispace will confirm it has started the 'lunar landing sequence' — the final steps the Resilience lander will need to tick through in the moments before the vehicle leaves it circular orbit around the moon and begins its touchdown attempt. • There a several critical phases within the sequence. The vehicle will begin to change its orientation and start the braking process, aiming to slow down Resilience's speed. • Resilience's targeted touchdown time is 3:17 p.m. ET. The lander is aiming for a spot within Mare Frigoris — or the 'Sea of Cold' — which lies in the moon's far northern reaches. • If all goes according to plan, Ispace should confirm the vehicle is safely on the surface within a minute or so after touchdown, the company's CEO, Takeshi Hakamada, told CNN. • Ground controllers will then conduct a series of health checks to make sure the lander, its science instruments and all other components are functioning as intended. • The first image from the lander is expected within the first 12 hours after the spacecraft reaches the surface, perhaps sooner. (Take note: Every lunar landing mission has to deal with limited bandwidth to beam data back to Earth. Sometimes, visuals are not the highest priority.)
Newsweek
6 hours ago
- Newsweek
Albertsons Food Recalled in 12 States as FDA Issues Most Severe Risk Level
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Albertsons Companies has issued a voluntary recall of multiple store-prepared Greek salad products sold across 12 states and Washington, D.C. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has classified the alert as a Class I recall—its highest and most urgent warning level. The salads were made using cucumbers linked to a multistate salmonella outbreak traced back to Bedner Growers Company. Newsweek has contacted Albertsons, via email, and Bedner Growers Company, via online contact form, for comment. Why It Matters A Class I recall is reserved for products that pose a serious health risk with a "reasonable probability" of causing illness or even death if consumed. The recalled Greek salads were sold under several store brands in high-traffic northeastern grocery chains. The FDA warning elevates the urgency for consumers who may still have the product in their refrigerators, particularly those with compromised immune systems, children, and elderly individuals more vulnerable to foodborne illnesses. What to Know Recalled Products: AMCE Greek Salad AUTHENTIC FS Sold refrigerated in clear plastic containers by the pound UPC: 293070 ##### READY MEALS Greek Salad SS Sold refrigerated in clear plastic containers by the pound UPC: 292483 ##### Star Market Greek Salad FS Sold refrigerated in clear plastic containers by the pound UPC: 292329 ##### Reason for Recall: All three products contain cucumbers from Bedner Growers Company, which were previously recalled due to contamination with salmonella, a bacteria known to cause serious gastrointestinal illness. The outbreak has been under ongoing investigation by public health authorities. Where the Recall Applies: The salads were sold at stores in the following states: Connecticut Delaware Maine Massachusetts Maryland New Hampshire New Jersey New York Rhode Island Pennsylvania Vermont Virginia Washington, D.C. The affected salads were primarily sold in ACME, Star Market, and Ready Meals outlets. What People Are Saying Albertsons Companies stated in its press release that it is "committed to the highest standards of food safety" and that the recall was initiated "out of an abundance of caution." No illnesses have been officially linked to the salads yet, but the company has urged customers who purchased any of the listed products to discard them immediately or return them to the store for a full refund. The FDA emphasized the seriousness of the recall, pointing to the ongoing multistate salmonella outbreak and reiterating its warning that contaminated food—even if it looks or smells normal—can be dangerous. What's Next The full scope of the salmonella outbreak connected to the contaminated cucumbers is being investigated. Consumers are advised to check their refrigerators for any of the recalled Greek salad items and follow safety instructions. Albertsons said affected stores are posting notices and removing products from shelves. Additional recalls may be issued if more prepared foods containing the same contaminated cucumbers are identified.
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Yahoo
Detroit schools will celebrate a serious commitment to STEM and the community is invited
The ability to 'write their own ticket' is a superpower that is often applied to bright, up-and-coming, future professionals that have acquired in-demand STEM skills that make today's employers take notice. In Detroit, at schools across the Detroit Public School Community District (DPSCD), there are dedicated teachers, administrators and other community stakeholders that talk about a 'STEM Movement,' which continues to pick up steam. The importance of STEM education to the district will be on full display Thursday evening, June 5, during the sixth annual DPSCD STEM Awards gala that will take place within the Martin Luther King Jr. Senior High School auditorium. The community is invited to attend the festivities where more than300 honorees connected to K-12 schools will be celebrated for their high achievements in a variety of STEM-related activities, including the Science & Engineering Fair of Metro Detroit, Academic Games, Math Bee, robotics and chess. And no ticket is needed for admission to the free event, which is scheduled to begin at 5:30 pm. 'You don't have to be a parent or a relative of one of the honorees to attend, if you're a part of the village and care about young people in Detroit, we hope you will show up at King High School's beautiful auditorium and cheer our young people on,' DPSCD School Board Member Angelique Peterson-Mayberry, who chairs the board's Curriculum/Academic committee and also will serve as master of ceremonies during the STEM Awards gala, stated as final preparation was being completed for Thursday's event. Many of the students — representing more than 50 schools — that will be receiving customized trophies and medals, created with special care by Livonia-based A.J. Bros. LLC, have already had an opportunity to compete with and against other top students from outside of Detroit. For example, Detroit students and teams that participate in robotics, chess and Academic Games — a unique collection of games including math contests (Equations and On-Sets) — have regularly participated in competitions on the state and national levels. 'Often public education doesn't get its due, but we want our parents and community to know that this is what public education looks like in its most holistic form,' said Peterson-Mayberry, who will be making another happy return to King High School, where she graduated in 1992 out of the MSAT (Mathematics, Science and Applied Technology) program. 'There is a prize at the end for all the students that will be recognized because they are gaining tools that they will use in life.' In addition to the awards presented to the students, special awards will be given to STEM coaches — representing DPSCD educators and community volunteers — that have gone above and beyond the call of duty. And then there are the Principal 3 for 3 Awards that will be awarded to principals that have made a special effort to promote STEM by providing robotics, Academic Games and chess programs at their schools. 'For our coaches and school principals that make our STEM programs successful, we just want to say thank you for dedicating their time and talent to our young people outside of the classroom,' said Peterson-Mayberry, who will be joined on the King auditorium stage throughout the program by her fellow Class of 1992 King classmate Carl Hollier, musically known as DJ Invisible, who is expected to supply doses of pulsating music and witty banter as he has done at previous DPSCD STEM Awards galas, where students make a red carpet entrance as they file into the auditorium. Another hat that Peterson-Mayberry wears in the community includes being a Global Diversity Equity Inclusion Manager for manufacturing employees at Ford Motor Company. And as it turns out, she also will be joined on Thursday evening by others from the automotive community that have taken a special interest in STEM education at DPSCD schools, including representatives from General Motors, the sponsor of this year's STEM Awards gala, through a generous contribution made to the Detroit Public Schools Community District Foundation. "Innovation is the heart of the automotive industry, and STEM education fuels that creativity,' General Motors' Rhonda Fields, Portfolio Lead for STEAM Education, said. 'By supporting the DPSCD STEM Awards, we're strengthening a culture of problem-solving, investing in the future workforce, and inspiring students to see the possibilities within STEM careers. 'We want young minds to know that their talents can lead to groundbreaking advancements — not just in automotive, but across many industries that shape our world." This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Special evening planned for shining STEM stars in Detroit
