Muscle Isn't Vanity. Gabrielle Lyon Says It's Preventive Medicine
Physician and author Dr. Gabrielle Lyon argues doctors have spent fifty years treating longevity as a fat problem, when it's really a muscle problem.
For centuries, muscle has been viewed as a mere source of aesthetics and strength. Dr. Gabrielle Lyon seeks to change this perspective, advocating for muscles to be recognized as an essential organ and a key determinant of aging. While working as a fellow in nutritional sciences and geriatrics at Washington University in St. Louis in 2015, Lyon observed the connection between body composition and brain function, leading her to believe that medicine should prioritize muscle health over focusing on body fat.
In her 2023 book Forever Strong: A New, Science-Based Strategy for Aging Well, Lyon asserts that muscle is the organ of longevity—serving as a metabolic powerhouse. When contracted, muscles release peptide hormones called myokines that communicate with various organs, promoting a whole-body communication. Exercise, she emphasizes, is one of the most robust evidence-backed methods to increase longevity.
Strong muscles aid older adults in maintaining balance, mobility, and independence, as muscle weakness elevates the risk of falls and disability. Furthermore, muscle quality can unveil health risks that body-fat percentage may overlook, such as myosteatosis, a condition characterized by fat infiltration in muscles, which is connected to insulin resistance, impaired mobility, and higher mortality risk.
Lyon's telemedicine practice, Through Strong Medical, and her co-founding of the Forever Strong Center on Long Island, New York, are dedicated to treating patients focusing solely on muscle health. She also authored two best-selling books, frequently appears on media platforms, founded National Muscle Health Month, hosts The Dr. Gabrielle Lyon Show podcast, boasts over 1 million Instagram followers, and continues to publish peer-reviewed research.
Lyon's advice is simple: incorporate resistance training at least twice a week and consume adequate protein, which becomes increasingly important as one ages. Her ultimate goal is to shift the focus from merely losing weight to building strength and enhancing overall health.
Written by urgent.news from Time's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
