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How to lose weight quickly and without harm to health for women and men after 50 years old
Last reviewed: 08.07.2025

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The problem of excess weight is relevant at any age, but it becomes most acute in adulthood. Let's consider how to lose weight after 50 years, the basic rules of nutrition and training.
Over the years, the rate of metabolic processes slows down, so even regular portions of food can cause extra pounds. The total mass of muscle tissue gradually decreases, and fat increases. The weight problem is also associated with changes in hormonal levels. In women, this occurs during menopause. Reduced energy expenditure and slow metabolism, taking hormonal drugs lead to the formation of excess weight.
Excess weight is the cause of many diseases. After 50 years, it most often provokes cardiovascular disorders, various gynecological and endocrine diseases, in particular diabetes. Against this background, shortness of breath appears, blood pressure constantly jumps, joints hurt. In addition, excess weight is the most common cause of depression. Dissatisfaction with one's reflection in the mirror leads to frequent mood swings, irritability, apathy.
Rules for effective weight loss after 50 years:
- Give up any diets.
An unbalanced diet leads to the body suffering from a deficiency of nutrients, minerals and vitamins. The need for these substances is relevant at any age, but their deficiency in adulthood is much more acute. Do not forget that diets are most often based on getting rid of excess fluid. This leads to dehydration and loss of skin elasticity.
- Healthy diet.
Adjust your diet and review your menu. To lose weight, you need to include fruits, vegetables, and seafood in your diet. Particular attention should be paid to complex carbohydrates - durum pasta, boiled potatoes, whole grain bread. It is better to refuse baked goods, sweets, fatty meats, and dairy products. You need to eat 5-6 times a day, but in small portions. This approach will improve digestion and activate metabolism.
- Set yourself up for slow weight loss.
If at a young age you can lose about 1 kg per week, then after 50 the weight loss should not exceed 500 g in the same time. Rapid weight loss leads to the loss of skin elasticity, the appearance of wrinkles, folds and other age-related problems.
- Physical activity.
This is an important condition for healthy weight loss at any age. The ideal fitness option in adulthood is intensive walking and walks in the fresh air. They tone the heart and promote fat burning. Swimming will be useful. This type of exercise strengthens all the muscles of the body, maintains the elasticity of the epidermis and keeps it in good shape.
- Consult your doctor.
Age-related changes leave their mark on the entire body, which negatively affects the process of losing weight. Consult a nutritionist, therapist and endocrinologist.
The ideal option for losing weight after 50 is a combination of proper healthy nutrition and regular exercise. But do not overdo it, as excessive thinness adds age. Gradual weight loss forms healthy habits that last a lifetime.
How to lose weight properly after 50 years?
Excess weight in adulthood is a problem for many people. In most cases, it is associated with decreased physical activity and hormonal changes. In women after 50 years, the functions of the reproductive system are noticeably reduced, which leads to menopause. Estrogen synthesis decreases and age-related changes in the body begin. The main symptoms of this condition are:
- Frequent headaches and dizziness.
- Increased heart rate.
- Rapid fatigue.
- Increased irritability.
- General weakness.
Slowing down of metabolic processes and biochemical reactions leads to deterioration of the blood condition, which provokes obesity. Age-related changes are aggravated by a deficiency of useful minerals and hypovitaminosis. In addition to gaining excess weight, this also leads to the following problems:
- Memory loss.
- Brittle hair and nails.
- Bone fragility.
- Pain in the joints.
- Deterioration of hearing and vision.
- The appearance of wrinkles due to loss of elasticity and firmness of the skin.
The simplest way that will tell you how to lose weight correctly after 50 years is a balanced diet and regular physical activity. This is the key to good health, both mental and physical.
Let's look at effective recommendations that will help you lose weight correctly after 50 years:
- First of all, seek medical help. A full examination of the body will reveal various disorders and diseases. This will help to create an optimal weight loss plan that will not harm your health, but on the contrary, will contribute to its improvement.
- Burn more than you consume. Regular cardio, such as walking, running or swimming, not only helps you lose weight, but also improves your overall well-being. Choose the sports and exercises that you enjoy and that are gentle on your joints. This is because the wear and tear of joint tissue in people over 50 can cause acute pain, which will negatively affect your health and the process of normalizing your weight.
- Healthy food and maintaining water balance. Lean meat and dairy products, vegetables, fruits, whole grains and cereals are the basis of a healthy diet. Eight glasses of water per day are necessary to satisfy hunger and maintain skin elasticity. It is also necessary to reduce daily calorie intake by 250-500 kcal.
- Minimize all stress and irritation factors. Mature age means more responsibility and, accordingly, problems that cause various nervous disorders. Try to eliminate such irritants. This will help improve sleep and improve overall well-being, which in turn will contribute to easy weight loss.
What can you eat after 50 years?
If you are set on losing weight and rejuvenating your body, you should know what you can eat after 50 years. So, to maintain the proper functioning of the body, all organs and systems, slowing down the aging process, you need to adhere to the basic principles of healthy eating:
- Energy balance. Very often in adulthood there is a greater consumption of calories than the body requires. This leads to excess weight, which is an additional burden for many organs and systems. Proper nutrition should have a reduced caloric content and correspond to energy expenditure.
- Preventive nutrition. It is no secret that in adulthood, chronic diseases worsen and new ones appear. Nutrition should be structured in such a way as to prevent the development of various pathologies, that is, have a rich vitamin and mineral composition. Particular attention should be paid to the prevention of sclerosis, since it is the most common cause of death and cardiovascular diseases. Products with lipotropic properties, that is, vegetable oils, low-fat cottage cheese and fish, eggs, have an anti-sclerotic effect.
- Balance and variety. The diet should contain fresh fruits and vegetables, dairy products, lean meat and fish. Particular attention should be paid to foods rich in glucose, as this substance improves brain function.
- Easy to digest and stimulates enzyme production. Slow metabolism leads to problems with digestion. Therefore, the diet should always include foods rich in folic acid, vitamins, iodine, copper and iron, which are responsible for the renewal of enzyme systems.
- Fractional diet. The ideal option for maintaining a feeling of satiety is 5-6 meals a day, but in small portions. In between meals, you need to drink 200-300 ml of water.
- Minimum salt and refusal of alcohol. Excess salt in the body causes swelling, i.e. fluid retention. This manifests itself in increased obesity, joint pain. In addition, it provokes the development of cardiovascular diseases. Alcohol has similar properties, the abuse of which negatively affects the functioning of the entire body.
- Vitamin preparations and dietary supplements. To obtain a sufficient amount of useful substances, it is necessary not only to eat properly, but also to use additional sources of vitamins and minerals. Today, the pharmaceutical market has preparations adapted specifically for the elderly.
In addition to following the rules of healthy eating, you need to know about the beneficial properties of foods:
- Sea fish is a source of phosphorus, potassium, selenium and fluorine. Contains vitamins A, B, E and D.
- Fermented milk products improve the digestion process, prevent constipation and other bowel disorders.
- Greens - dill, parsley and cilantro enrich the body with vitamins, maintain the elasticity and firmness of the skin.
- Vegetables – it is recommended to eat red vegetables, as they contain a large amount of vitamin A. This substance improves vision and skin condition. The diet should include beets, pumpkin, tomatoes, bell peppers, carrots and corn.
- Porridges - oatmeal and buckwheat have rejuvenating properties. It is recommended to cook porridges in water with a minimum addition of salt and oil.
- Vegetable oil – sunflower, olive and linseed oils are especially useful. These products contain vitamin E and fatty acids, which strengthen blood vessels and improve the condition of the epidermis.
There are also products that not only promote weight loss, but also have rejuvenating properties. Their use improves the condition of hair, teeth and skin. Let's consider what you need to eat after 50 years to maintain good health:
- Water - regular still, but filtered liquid not only quenches thirst, but also maintains the elasticity of the skin and accelerates metabolic processes, which is necessary for weight loss.
- Pumpkin is a vegetable that is a source of rare vitamin T, which speeds up the digestion of heavy food. It helps you lose weight and stay slim.
- Corn – rich in natural calcium, improves dental health.
- Cottage cheese is a tasty source of calcium. It is especially necessary for women during menopause, as this period is characterized by a high risk of osteoporosis.
- Garlic is rich in selenium and improves the absorption of vitamin E. Prevents atherosclerosis, strengthens the immune system, and supports the cardiovascular system.
- Buckwheat is a must-have porridge in the diet of those losing weight. It prevents varicose veins, improves blood circulation and immunity.
- Grapefruit - contains plant enzymes that help digest hard-to-digest foods, boost energy and good mood.
- Green tea is rich in antioxidants and polyphenols, which are much more effective than vitamin E. It protects the body from cardiovascular diseases and reduces cholesterol levels.
- Lemon and cabbage are natural sources of vitamin C, which is an antioxidant. These foods are low in calories and help you lose weight.
To choose a healthy diet that will help you lose weight, you can consult a nutritionist. The doctor will tell you about the basic principles of nutrition, select the optimal and affordable set of products needed for losing weight after 50 years.
What shouldn't you eat after 50?
In addition to healthy foods, there are things that you can’t eat after 50 years. Let’s look at the main contraindications in nutrition for those losing weight:
- Pastries, sweet and yeast-based products – limit or completely avoid flour products. Give preference to whole grain products. You can also use yesterday's bread in the form of crackers.
- Sugar, sweets, confectionery – abuse of these products leads to obesity, deterioration of dental health and even diabetes.
- Strong coffee and tea - have a negative effect on the cardiovascular system. Such drinks stimulate increased irritability of the nervous system.
- Salt and salty foods are the main cause of fluid retention and swelling. Contributes to the development of cardiovascular diseases.
- Fatty meat and fish, fried foods are sources of cholesterol and increase the tendency to gain weight.
Eating healthy foods and avoiding unhealthy ones are the main principles of nutrition that will help you normalize your weight and maintain health and beauty after 50 years.
Menu for weight loss after 50 years
Working on yourself is a difficult and painstaking work. To achieve the desired results, you need to not only maintain an active lifestyle, but also eat right. Since the success of losing weight is 70% dependent on the diet. The menu for losing weight after 50 years should be dietary, but complete. Let's consider the main recommendations for making a diet:
- It is better to start the morning with a glass of warm water, which will help the body wake up and prepare the esophagus for work. For breakfast, it is better to choose cereals. For example, you can cook 100 g of buckwheat or oatmeal, add a boiled egg, greens and a spoonful of vegetable oil to the porridge. If you like sweets, then mix the porridge with dried fruits, nuts and milk. A healthy and tasty breakfast is ready.
- Lunch should also be balanced and tasty. For the first course, you can have soup based on vegetable broth, lean boiled meat or fish. For the second course, a salad of fresh vegetables or fruits is suitable.
- For a snack, you can use cottage cheese or diet bread. The volume of this meal should not exceed 200 g. Fruits or berries, dried fruits, yogurt will be useful.
- Dinner is the last meal of the day. It is best to use boiled vegetables with vegetable oil dressing or fermented milk products for its preparation. This can be a light vegetable vinaigrette, beetroot and carrot salad, cottage cheese with a glass of fermented baked milk or kefir.
A varied diet will not only improve your overall well-being, but will also promote active weight loss.
Recipes for weight loss after 50 years
It is necessary to eat tasty and healthy food at any age. Let's consider simple and accessible recipes for losing weight after 50 years:
- Cream of zucchini and cheese soup in chicken broth.
- Chicken broth 500 ml.
- Fresh zucchini 1-2 pcs.
- Processed cheese 1-2 pcs.
- Boiled chicken meat – 150-200 g.
- Greens to taste.
Add diced zucchini to the previously prepared chicken broth. Boil the vegetable over medium heat until it becomes soft. Remove the soup from the stove, let it cool slightly and puree with a blender. Grate or chop the processed cheese and chicken meat. Cheese is needed to thicken the soup. Put the soup back on the fire, add spices, cheese and meat to taste. Boil the soup over low heat until the processed cheese is completely dissolved. When serving, the dish can be garnished with herbs.
- Vegetable lasagna.
- Eggplant – 2-3 pcs.
- Hard cheese 150 g.
- Boiled chicken or minced chicken 200 g.
- Sour cream 50 g.
- Egg 1-2 pcs.
- Greens to taste.
Wash the eggplant and cut into thin slices, sprinkle with salt and leave for 10-15 minutes (removes bitterness). Fry the mince without oil or with a minimum of it, cut the boiled chicken. Mix the egg with sour cream and herbs, grate the cheese. Rinse the eggplants well from salt and put the first layer of the vegetable on the bottom of a glass dish or on a baking sheet with parchment. Put a layer of meat or mince on top of the eggplant, add spices to taste, pour the egg mixture and sprinkle with cheese. Repeat a few more layers. Bake the lasagne for 30 minutes at 180 degrees in the oven's convection mode.
- Dessert pumpkin.
- Pumpkin 1-1.5 kg.
- Orange 1-2 pcs.
- Honey 100 g.
- Cinnamon.
- Brown sugar.
- Vanilla.
- Nuts and dried fruits of your choice.
Wash the pumpkin, peel it and cut it into small pieces. Place the vegetable on a baking tray, sprinkle with a mixture of sugar, vanilla and cinnamon. As soon as the vegetable becomes soft, turn off the oven. Transfer the finished pumpkin to another dish, sprinkle with dried fruits and nuts, add orange fillet and pour honey. A delicious and healthy dessert is ready.
How to lose weight quickly after 50?
Excess weight is the cause of complexes and a high risk of cardiovascular and musculoskeletal diseases at any age. Obesity is a particular problem for older people. Let's look at the main recommendations that will teach you how to quickly lose weight after 50 years.
- Daily routine – organize your day properly. Set aside time for sports and proper rest. Eat at the same time every day. Such discipline will help normalize metabolism and improve metabolism. Minimize nervous experiences and stress.
- Healthy eating – avoid fried, fatty and sweet foods. Give preference to fresh, boiled or baked vegetables and fruits. Add lean meats, durum wheat pasta, cereals, and fermented milk products to your diet. Replace harmful sweets with equally tasty but healthy fruits.
- Exercise – try to go for a walk in the fresh air every day. Walking at a moderate and intense pace helps to normalize your weight. Swimming will be useful, as it does not put stress on the joints. You can also sign up for group classes, such as fitness or yoga. This will not only improve your well-being, but also expand your circle of acquaintances.
The above recommendations will help you lose weight at 50, maintain youth and beauty. Their observance does not require much effort, it is enough to tune in to work. The best motivation for losing weight is a beautiful, healthy body and good health at any age.