Do your food cravings decrease as you age

Probably. That and they may appear smaller because they have slight loss of muscle, less active maybe (generalisation) and go out to eat less.

Where is the evidence or statistics that shows people tend to be thinner and leaner as they get older? Or did you just make this up?

(Guy in early fifties here.) In reply, perhaps, and definitely what you crave and how you approach eating changes based on aging.

For me, one big change was when I (a hobby-jogger) got more serious about running training... my body just craved more of better-quality food and responded well to positive diet changes; after that (in my early 30s), it was tough to go back to the "teenage/bachelor diet".

I also found that "I was becoming my dad." Certain foods that I used to consume and process with no problem now seemed too sweet, salty, or spicy. Just came back from a wedding, and was glad I watched what I ate and drank, while marveling (a little enviously and wistfully) at my nephews, who had multiple platefuls of rich food and hit the bar hard.

Add to it your senses of taste and smell decline and change enough so how you experience food changes. Good recent NYT article:

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/06/booming/sense-of-taste-changes-with-age.html?_r=0

ksjksk wrote:

Where is the evidence or statistics that shows people tend to be thinner and leaner as they get older? Or did you just make this up?

^This

Quick Stats:

Average BMI peaks in the 55-59 age group, and is the same for 65-69 as it is for 35-39.

Similar curve for obesity

I'd expect the trend to be downward after 70 or so, simply because a lot of the heaviest people are going to be dying before then from heart attacks or other complications of obesity.

As I get older, I find it harder to "resist"... whatever.

Cold? Used to be I embrace the bitter, "love the suck," and head on out. Now... bed seems so warm n comfy.

Whiskey? Blech (in my twenties); now... Hmm... mmm? mmmM! Ditto x2 for wine.

Ice cream? Man, I useda feel so POWERFUL foregoing ice cream, cake, etc. etc. Now I just LIKE IT (That said, things seem too sweet now, so there is some positive push-back).

In other words, when younger, the discomfort (cold, hunger, tiredness, pain) was a PLUS; now... well... not so much.

NOT looking fwd to this winter. My six-pack (or, as the little'uns say, my "two pack plus" is gonna get lost; I'm already up 5 lb; haven't done a 20 miler in MONTHS... sheesh.

No. Once you get to 50 the skin on your face just drops below your jawline . Something to do with collagen, Hence turkey necks.

well..... wrote:

ksjksk wrote:

Where is the evidence or statistics that shows people tend to be thinner and leaner as they get older? Or did you just make this up?

^This

Quick Stats:

Average BMI peaks in the 55-59 age group, and is the same for 65-69 as it is for 35-39.

http://content.gallup.com/origin/gallupinc/GallupSpaces/Production/Cms/POLL/o670fnb0a0azgxbivkpt-a.gif

Similar curve for obesity

http://content.gallup.com/origin/gallupinc/GallupSpaces/Production/Cms/POLL/ayj_egmgqks4zfauj7thra.gif

I'd expect the trend to be downward after 70 or so, simply because a lot of the heaviest people are going to be dying before then from heart attacks or other complications of obesity.

I think this is it - it's selection bias. Those that are severely over-weight don't make it to the 65+ age group as often. As they say, there are old people and fat people, but few old fat people.

Because the guys in there 30s that overweight and have beer guts have heart attacks or other complications and die in their 40s. The skinny 50 and 60 somethings were probably pretty healthy in their 20s and 30s as well.