

#270 - Why you need to build and maintain muscle to lose weight and live longer | Dr. Gabrielle Lyon & Dr. Casey Means - (Replay)
31 snips Jan 30, 2025
Dr. Gabrielle Lyon, a family medicine physician and muscle-centric medicine expert, discusses the importance of building and maintaining muscle for weight loss and longevity. She emphasizes that muscle is the body's metabolic currency and critical for overall health. Lyon advocates for prioritizing strength training over calorie restriction and highlights the protective benefits of muscle mass against age-related decline. Dr. Casey Means joins her to explore how focusing on muscle can enhance metabolic health, especially for women during menopause.
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Betsy's Story
- Dr. Gabrielle Lyon's research was transformed by Betsy, a woman whose brain showed early Alzheimer's-like changes despite following conventional weight loss advice.
- This led Lyon to realize the focus should be on muscle health, not just obesity.
Muscle's Importance
- Muscle is our metabolic currency, the primary site for glucose uptake, and a major player in metabolic health.
- It also produces myokines, which impact brain health and immune function, and serves as an amino acid reservoir.
Muscle vs. Fat
- Loss of healthy muscle is more dangerous than gaining body fat due to metabolic and survivability implications.
- Healthy muscle improves mitochondrial function, glycogen storage, and overall resilience against diseases.