obesity

Muscle hypotrophy, body mass index and mortality risk

By Dr. Francesco Casillo

Men lose about 20% of their muscle mass between the ages of 40 and 60.

Usually, in individuals with muscularly hypotrophic arms this characteristic is accompanied by an increased circumference of the waist. The British researchers found that this combination predisposes to a high risk of mortality.

The researchers studied the mortality rate of 4107 men in an age range between 60 and 79 years. This monitoring study lasted 6 years. The circumference of the arm and the waist point represented the 2 best predictors of mortality rate. Small circumference arms increased the risk of death by 36%.

The risk rose to 55% if the reduced circumference of the arms was accompanied by a high waist circumference. Underweight men with a body mass index less than 18.5, and especially those with a large waist, reported the highest mortality rate.

Paradoxically and surprisingly, men with a body mass index within the recommended range to be optimal (20 to 25) were more likely to die during the time course of the study than overweight subjects with a higher body mass index, including between 25 and 30.

Maintaining muscle mass and decreasing visceral fat are therefore key factors for longevity.

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