September – Muscle as a Health Marker
Muscle isn’t just for looks anymore. People are learning that the loss of skeletal muscle doesn’t only come with age; it’s also linked to metabolic resilience. Low muscle mass can worsen insulin resistance, reduce metabolic flexibility, and impair long-term health outcomes. In fact, a meta-analysis of older adults found that muscle loss is significantly linked to metabolic risk factors like high blood pressure and higher fasting glucose. So, preserving muscle mass isn’t just cosmetic anymore, it’s foundational. That’s why people are prioritizing lean mass, grip strength, protein timing, and resistance training.
This is especially important for those on GLP-1 therapies, as these drugs can drive fat loss but also reduce lean body mass. Lean muscle mass lost while on a GLP-1 can represent roughly 25% of the total weight lost.
Bottom line, as we age, we should prioritize muscle mass for strength, movement and health!