Mixed
In older adults (50+), muscle mass and muscle strength are positively correlated, but comorbidities like diabetes, heart failure, and obesity significantly reduce muscle strength independent of muscle mass.
If you are over 50, having more muscle mass helps your strength, but it doesn't guarantee it. If you have diabetes, heart disease, or obesity, your muscles may be less efficient at producing force. Prioritize resistance training that focuses on strength and function, not just muscle size, and manage your chronic conditions to preserve muscle quality.
Among individuals aged 50 and older in the US, muscle mass and muscle strength are positively correlated, independent of the associations of age and gender with muscle mass and strength. A variety of comorbid medical conditions serve as independent predictors of lower muscle strength (e.g., diabetes, CHD/CHF, vision problems) and/or modify the relationship between muscle mass and muscle strength (e.g., obesity).
Why this rating
Large, nationally representative cross-sectional study (NHANES), but causality cannot be established due to the cross-sectional design.
Source
Relationship between muscle mass and muscle strength, and the impact of comorbidities: a population-based, cross-sectional study of older adults in the United States
Lei Chen et al. · BMC Geriatrics · 2013
DOI 10.1186/1471-2318-13-74
Related findings · Mixed
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