Researchers recently explored the association of total and intensity-specific levels of physical activity and sedentary behavior with sarcopenia and its components – i.e., muscle mass, muscle strength, and physical performance -- in older adults. They did a literature search for peer-reviewed articles that included adults 60 and older, and selected 124 studies including more than 230,000 participants (53%, women).

They found that higher levels of total physical activity were inversely associated with sarcopenia – meaning the more physical activity an individual did, the less likely he or she was to have sarcopenia. A protective association was also seen for moderate-to-vigorous physical activity.

Notably, no association was identified for steps, light physical activity, or staying sedentary.

The authors state, “These findings might support the importance of moderate-to-vigorous, rather than light, intensity physical activity-based interventions to prevent sarcopenia.”

To download the full article, published in The Lancet Healthy Longevity, click here