If you’ve hit your 40s and noticed that your body doesn’t respond to diet and exercise the way it used to, you’re not imagining things. Maybe you eat the same way you did in your 30s, but the scale won’t budge. Or you feel like just looking at a piece of cake adds five pounds. Frustrating, right?
You’re not alone. Many people start to feel the effects of aging in their metabolism, hormones, and overall health around this stage of life. But here’s the good news: fat loss after 40 is absolutely possible — it just requires a different approach.
Why Fat Loss Is Harder After 40
1. Your Metabolism Naturally Slows Down
As we age, our metabolism gradually decreases. That means your body burns fewer calories at rest than it used to, so extra calories are more likely to be stored as fat.
2. Loss of Muscle Mass
Starting in your 30s, you slowly begin to lose muscle — unless you’re actively working to keep it. Less muscle means fewer calories burned, less strength, and more fat storage.
3. Hormonal Shifts
- For women, menopause brings drops in estrogen that can trigger stubborn belly fat.
- For men, lower testosterone levels make it harder to maintain muscle and energy.
- Cortisol (your stress hormone) often runs higher during this time of life, too, which encourages fat storage.
4. Blood Sugar and Insulin Changes
Your body may not handle carbohydrates as efficiently as before. This can lead to higher blood sugar levels, sugar cravings, and weight gain.
5. Lifestyle Stressors
Life in your 40s often means balancing work, family, and health concerns. Add in less sleep, less movement, and more stress, and it’s a recipe for stalled fat loss.
How Functional Medicine Looks at Fat Loss After 40
Unlike quick-fix diets, Functional Medicine Los Angeles takes a whole-body approach. We ask: What’s really happening beneath the surface that’s making fat loss so hard?
Here are some key areas we focus on:
- Nutrition that works with your body now: More protein, high-quality fats, and plenty of fiber-rich veggies to support metabolism and balance blood sugar.
- Strength training & movement: Lifting weights or bodyweight exercises can help rebuild lost muscle and rev up your metabolism.
- Hormone support: Through testing and lifestyle adjustments, we address imbalances in estrogen, testosterone, thyroid, and cortisol.
- Gut health & inflammation: A healthy gut supports nutrient absorption, hormone balance, and energy — all essential for fat loss.
- Stress & sleep: Managing stress and getting restorative sleep are just as important as diet and exercise.
At functional medicine Studio City, our team can help design a personalized plan tailored to your needs, supporting sustainable fat loss and renewed energy.
— not against it.
The Bottom Line
Fat loss after 40 isn’t impossible. Your body is just different from it was in your 20s or 30s, and it needs a new strategy. When you start supporting your hormones, metabolism, and overall health — not just cutting calories — weight loss becomes more natural, and your energy returns too.
Think of this season of life not as your body “slowing down,” but as an invitation to listen more closely to what it really needs.
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If you’re struggling with stubborn weight, low energy, or feeling like your body is working against you, I’d love to help. Together, at Functional Medicine Los Angeles, we can uncover the root causes and create a personalized plan that actually works for your body — not against it.