Which group tends to have a higher body fat percentage?

Older adults tend to have a higher body fat percentage for several reasons related to aging and changes in body composition. As individuals age, there is often a natural decline in muscle mass, known as sarcopenia, which typically begins in middle age and accelerates in later life. Muscle tissue is metabolically more active than fat tissue, so a decrease in muscle mass can lead to an increase in body fat percentage, even if body weight remains stable.

Moreover, older adults may experience hormonal changes that can influence fat distribution and metabolism. For instance, a decrease in hormones like testosterone in men and estrogen in women can affect both fat accumulation and muscle maintenance. Additionally, lifestyle factors such as reduced physical activity levels and changes in dietary habits often occur with aging, contributing further to an increase in body fat percentage.

Younger age groups, such as children and teenagers, often have higher levels of physical activity and are in critical growth periods that support muscle development, resulting in relatively lower body fat percentages. Young adults typically have a peak in muscle mass and may have more active lifestyles than older adults, which helps keep their body fat percentage lower.