The Dr. Hyman Show

Muscle Is the Key to Longevity (Not Fat Loss) | Dr. Gabrielle Lyon

54 snips
Jan 14, 2026
Dr. Gabrielle Lyon, a board-certified physician and advocate for muscle-centric medicine, shares her insights on muscle health and longevity. She explains how muscle is often overlooked as the largest organ critical for metabolic health. The conversation covers the importance of muscle quality over weight, the benefits of resistance training, and why protein needs increase with age. Lyon emphasizes that investing in muscle strength can help maintain mobility and resilience as we age, transforming how we approach our well-being.
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INSIGHT

Muscle As A Central Metabolic Organ

  • Skeletal muscle is the largest organ system and central metabolic regulator, not just for movement.
  • Dysfunctional muscle precedes metabolic diseases like type 2 diabetes and Alzheimer’s by impairing glucose and lipid handling.
INSIGHT

Quality Beats Quantity For Muscle

  • Muscle quality (intramuscular fat) matters more than total body fat or BMI for metabolic health.
  • Resistance training improves muscle tissue quality even without big changes in body fat or weight.
INSIGHT

Muscle Acts As A Metabolic Sink

  • At rest healthy muscle primarily oxidizes fatty acids; sedentary, glycogen-filled muscle forces glucose use.
  • Activity empties muscle glycogen and creates capacity for carbohydrate intake without metabolic harm.
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