Research
Hormonal
Increased skeletal muscle mass (SMI) significantly reduces the risk of developing metabolic syndrome (Met-S), while decreased muscle mass increases the risk.
Focus on maintaining or increasing your skeletal muscle mass through regular physical activity. Even a modest 1% annual increase in muscle mass can significantly lower your risk of developing metabolic syndrome. You do not need to become a bodybuilder; consistent activity that preserves muscle is metabolically protective.
GoodSupportsHIGH confidence
Compared to a decrease in skeletal muscle index (SMI), an increase in SMI of 1% or more significantly decreased the risk of developing Met-S [52]. ... increased skeletal muscle mass can prevent Met-S.
Why this rating
Based on multiple large-scale longitudinal and cross-sectional cohort studies (n > 10,000) cited in the review.
Source
Metabolic Syndrome and Sarcopenia
Hiroki Nishikawa et al. · Nutrients · 2021
DOI 10.3390/nu13103519
narrative_reviewCited 294×
Read the paper DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10
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