The Importance of Muscle Mass

Most conversations about health focus on weight, or body fat. But the evidence increasingly shows that skeletal muscle mass - may be one of the most important factors in determining your long-term health, and quality of life. Muscle tissue is the primary site of glucose uptake in the body. When you eat carbohydrates, your muscles absorb and store much of the resulting glucose. People with greater muscle mass tend to have better insulin sensitivity, meaning their bodies process glucose more efficiently, and are less prone to developing Type 2 diabetes. Higher muscle mass is also associated with more favourable lipid profiles; lower blood pressure; and reduced systemic inflammation. Large-scale studies have shown that low muscle mass is an independent predictor of cardiovascular mortality - above and beyond conventional risk factors such as BMI. Muscle mass, and bone density are closely linked through mechanical loading and shared hormonal signals. Resistance exercise — which builds and preserves muscle — places controlled stress on bones, stimulating remodelling, and increasing density over time. Sarcopenia is the progressive loss of muscle mass, and function that comes with age. It typically accelerates after fifty, but the process can begin in our thirties if we are not actively countering it. Sarcopenia is associated with falls; frailty; hospitalisation; and reduced independence. A landmark study published in the American Journal of Medicine, found that muscle mass index - not BMI, or body fat percentage - was the single strongest predictor of survival in older adults. Maintaining, or building muscle in mid-life is one of the most powerful investments you can make in your future health. An "InBody" scan - at Shilpa Davé Health will show you exactly where your muscle mass stands today. To book a scan and take your first step, please visit privategp.org.