Hormonal
Obesity and metabolic syndrome significantly impair the anabolic response (lean mass and strength gains) to resistance exercise and protein supplementation in older adults, creating anabolic resistance that limits muscle recovery during weight management.
If you are older and have excess body fat or metabolic issues, standard resistance training and protein intake will be less effective at building muscle than they are for leaner individuals. This is due to 'anabolic resistance' caused by inflammation and insulin resistance. To overcome this, you likely need higher-quality protein sources (like whey/casein blends with creatine and omega-3s) rather than just any protein, and you must prioritize metabolic health improvements alongside training.
Multiple linear regression analyses revealed that obesity and a Global Risk Index for metabolic syndrome (MetS) were the strongest predictors of ∆% gains in lean mass... with moderately strong, negative correlations to the adaptive response to polytherapy r = −0.36 to −0.68 (p < 0.05).
Why this rating
Retrospective analysis of a randomized clinical trial with a small subgroup (n=20) but strong statistical correlations.
Source
Obesity and Metabolic Disease Impair the Anabolic Response to Protein Supplementation and Resistance Exercise: A Retrospective Analysis of a Randomized Clinical Trial with Implications for Aging, Sarcopenic Obesity, and Weight Management
Mats I. Nilsson et al. · Nutrients · 2024
DOI 10.3390/nu16244407
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