exercise

Does Your Weight REALLY Matter? (Shocking)

It’s the first thing they do when you show up for a doctor’s appointment… it doesn’t matter if you’re there for a cold or a hangnail. 

They make you step on the scale. 

Maybe your doc or a nurse even shakes their head disapprovingly behind you. 

We’ve been conditioned to absolutely OBSESS about our weight. 

But is it as important as we’ve always thought?

A new study tried to get to the bottom of the issue – and you’re going to be shocked at what they found. 

An interesting study was published in the American Medical Association's journal. 

Researchers looked at the fitness levels and body compositions of 2,603 older adults (average age 64).

After measuring their body fat percentage and calculating their BMI, they asked these individuals to do an exercise treadmill test to determine their physical fitness.

They then followed those participants for 12 years to determine their death rate.

The result? The participants who scored highest in terms of physical fitness died at half the rate of the physically unfit subjects.

It didn’t matter what body fat percentage or BMI the participants had.

The study suggests that a high level of fitness is much more important than reaching an ideal body weight.

So… what’s going on? 

As I've said many times before: muscle strength and muscle mass are the most important factors for longevity.

In another study of over 400,000 middle-aged and older adults in the United Kingdom, researchers looked at muscle function and body fat. What they found was the men who had the least body fat were the weakest – somehow having body fat helps muscles stay fit. 

Other studies prove the same: the more muscle mass you have, the healthier you are, no matter how much fat you have on your body.

Now, I don't want you to ignore body fat completely, because the higher amount of body fat, the more you are at risk for diabetes, heart disease, and other illnesses. 

But I'd much rather have you exercising and building muscle than focusing on weight loss. 

Let me show you how.

Dr. Scott’s Muscle Maintaining Recipe 

Building muscles requires two things: 

  • Exercise: The first is that you need to move your body around a bit. Yes, this means you need to do some sort of exercise. It doesn’t have to be anything crazy, just get out and move your body. If all you can do is walk, then do that, but exercising including strength training is one of the keys to keeping your muscle mass as you age.
  • The right nutrition: Protein is your friend. Most older adults need more protein. Animal proteins including dairy, chicken, fish, eggs, and lean red meat are complete proteins that contain all of the essential amino acids required for muscle growth. You can also try protein powders.

Health and Happiness,

Scott Olson

Dr. Scott Olson, ND

Ed. Note: Please send your feedback: feedback@livingwelldaily.com – and click here to like us on Facebook.

View More Free Articles

Doctor-Approved Method to Ditch Blood Pressure Meds

In a world where drug solutions dominate healthcare, it’s refreshing to discover that best remedies sometimes don’t involve a single pill. A groundbreaking study shows simple relaxation techniques could be your secret weapon against one of America’s deadliest health conditions. Best of all? It’s free, easy to start right away—and your results are bound to...

Read This

Trouble Hearing? Your Heart Could Be at Risk

With research exploding and data pouring in, scientists are uncovering some weird (and surprisingly helpful) health connections. Today’s odd couple? Hearing loss and heart failure. Turns out your ears and your ticker are more connected than you ever imagined. A major study published in the journal Heart looked at over 164,000 people for nearly a...

Read This

Stay Up Late? It Could Destroy Your Mental Health

If you dread mornings but come alive at night, there’s concerning new research you need to know about. A recent study found that “night owls” are at higher risk for depression. But before you rush to set your alarm to get up with the sun tomorrow, there’s more to the story… Chronotypes are essentially your...

Read This

Go from Flabby to Fit with this Common Vitamin

If you’re like many of us, you woke up one day, looked in the mirror, and realized you’re no spring chicken anymore. Even worse—when you weren’t paying attention—it seems you somehow misplaced the muscles of your youth and have gone from fit to flabby. Aging has a way of humbling us like that. But scientists...

Read This

Seasonal Allergy “Off Switch” Discovered in the GUT

“Doc, why am I suddenly suffering from seasonal allergies when I’ve never had them before?” It’s a question I get all the time—and my answer might surprise you. Stop looking up at the trees—and start looking down at your gut… Your sneezing fits, itchy eyes, and runny nose might have more to do with what’s...

Read This

“Canary in the Coal Mine” Test Sniffs Out Brain Issues Early

One of the most common questions I get is how to tell if you’re starting to experience cognitive decline. I get it—losing your memory is scary, especially when it sneaks up on you. But here’s some exciting news that might put your mind at ease. A fascinating new study suggests that your nose might be...

Read This

BEAT Stubborn Leg Swelling Without Dangerous Diuretics

“I need help with edema.” —Swollen Hi Swollen, When patients complain of edema—fluid retention that causes feet, ankles, and legs to swell—I explain that, while conventional medicine immediately prescribes diuretic drugs, nature offers us effective solutions we can try first. I’ll share those in just a moment, but first, let’s take a quick look at...

Read This

Mental Health Linked to 30% FASTER Aging [6-Step FIX]

Your mind and body are more connected than you might realize—and a groundbreaking new study proves just how profound that connection really is. In fact, it’s this mind-body link that helps explain why battling depression can put you on the fast track to physical decline. Depression is the most common mental health condition worldwide. We’ve...

Read This

The Air You Breathe Is Silently Stealing Your Memory

You already know that air pollution damages your lungs. Chances are you’ve heard it can also harm your heart. And I bet you won’t be surprised when I tell you it claims millions of lives annually. But now, alarming new research suggests polluted air might also damage your brain. This study found that long-term exposure...

Read This

Get Intermittent Fasting Benefits Without Going Hungry

Intermittent fasting, which involves cycling between eating and fasting periods, is effective. There’s plenty of evidence for that. It’s not just weight loss, either. Intermittent fasting has significant benefits for metabolic health. However, many people find fasting difficult to stick to—and others can’t do it at all due to medical issues—so they miss out on...

Read This