DistantNews
Support us
🇰🇷 South Korea /Health & Science

Muscle Aging Can Begin Early Due to Sedentary Habits

From Hankyoreh · () Korean

Translated from Korean, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

Explainer Named sources Context piece
  • Muscle weakness doesn't occur suddenly but is linked to inactivity, even in young people.
  • Prolonged sitting impairs muscle function, leading to energy storage as fat and reduced metabolic efficiency.
  • Maintaining muscle health requires regular movement, adequate protein intake, and attention to gut health.

Muscle strength doesn't diminish overnight; it erodes gradually with inactivity, a process that can begin even in youth. Spending extended periods sitting, even for a 40-year-old office worker who feels they are "too young to worry about muscles," can lead to a decline in muscle function. This inactivity causes unused energy to accumulate as fat in the liver and abdomen, making individuals more prone to weight gain and reduced metabolic efficiency.

The body's largest energy-consuming organs, the thighs and buttocks, play a crucial role in utilizing glucose after meals and burning fat for energy through mitochondria. When these muscles are underutilized due to prolonged sitting, their function becomes sluggish. This impacts not only energy metabolism but also circulation, as leg muscles act as a pump to return blood to the heart. Inactivity can lead to swollen and heavy legs.

Muscles don't weaken suddenly. What's as important as age is the time you don't use your muscles.

— UnknownExplaining the gradual nature of muscle decline.

Beyond physical changes, muscle plays a vital role in communicating with the entire body. Muscle contractions release signaling molecules that influence the brain, blood vessels, and immune system. Reduced movement can impair mitochondrial function and balance. Initially, this may manifest as fatigue or increased body fat, but over time, it can elevate the risk of diabetes and fatty liver disease. In older age, weakened muscles can lead to falls and slower recovery from illness.

Maintaining muscle health is not solely about strenuous exercise but also about integrating movement throughout the day and supporting the body's systems. Simple habits like taking short breaks to walk every hour, using stairs instead of elevators, and performing simple chair squats can make a significant difference. A diet rich in protein, combined with foods that nourish gut bacteria like legumes, whole grains, and vegetables, is also essential. Recognizing that muscles are a critical asset for recovery and resilience, not just an aesthetic concern, is key to preserving them throughout life.

The muscles in the legs, especially the thighs and buttocks, are the largest energy-consuming organs in the body.

— UnknownHighlighting the role of lower body muscles in energy expenditure.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Hankyoreh in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

More Stories

From Our Blog