WHY CAN’T I SLIM DOWN?

Q I have weighed around 7st for many years and, if I did gain weight, I could always lose it again relatively easily by watching what I ate. Recently, I have found it impossible to lose weight however little I eat. I’m 74 now. Is this to do with my metabolism or just a part of ageing?

A You don’t mention your height, but 7st is very light. If you are 5ft, your BMI would be at the bottom limit of normal. As we age, we lose muscle mass and gain fat mass. You don’t need as many calories to maintain fat as you do to maintain muscle, so it’s normal to gain on average 1-2lb a year in later life.