What is loss of muscle?
Muscle loss, known medically as muscle atrophy, occurs when muscle cells shrink or degrade. This leads to weaker, smaller muscles and reduced strength.
There are a few common causes of muscle loss:
- Aging - We naturally lose muscle as we get older, typically after age 30. The rate of loss is about 3-5% per decade.
- Inactivity - Not using your muscles leads them to waste away. This is common after injuries/illnesses that require extended bedrest.
- Poor nutrition - Consuming inadequate protein and calories gives your body less raw material to maintain muscle.
Diets deficient in protein tend to cause more muscle loss than just calorie restriction.
- Hormonal changes - Shifts in hormones like testosterone, growth hormone, and cortisol impact muscle growth and breakdown.
For example, low testosterone in older men accelerates loss of lean muscle mass.
Muscle loss matters because it can:
- Lower strength and physical functioning
- Increase risk of falls and fractures
- Impair glucose metabolism
- Reduce resting metabolic rate
- Worsen sarcopenia (age-related muscle loss)
Can muscle loss be prevented or reversed?
Yes! While some loss is inevitable with aging, many lifestyle changes can slow, stop, or potentially reverse muscle loss. Strategies include:
- Resistance training - Lifting weights triggers muscle growth. This is extremely effective at combating loss from disuse and aging.
- Adequate protein - Consuming foods high in protein (meats, dairy, beans, nuts) gives your body the amino acids it needs to maintain and build muscle tissue. Most experts recommend 0.5-0.8 grams per pound of body weight daily.
- Hormone optimization - Balancing key hormones with nutrition, lifestyle modifications, medications or supplements can help address muscle loss in deficient states. For example, testosterone therapy under medical supervision may benefit some older men.
Renewal Center specializes in personalized hormone treatments to address low testosterone, growth hormone deficiency, and other hormone imbalances. Their comprehensive programs couple physician-guided hormone therapy with tailored nutrition and exercise plans to help patients regain strength, muscle mass, and vitality.