Avoid the One-Two Punch

By Editorial Staff

Men, think about your body for a minute – no, beyond what you can see. The human body is first and foremost a skeleton: 206 bones, to be exact. Without that skeleton, what would keep your body together? That's why keeping your bones healthy and strong with age is so imperative.

Now let's talk about body fat, because one of the things body fat can contribute to is osteoporosis: weakening of your bones. Research suggests men with weight issues have a higher risk of osteoporosis – that's two strikes against your health as you age. Per the study, men with higher fat mass had a negative association with bone mineral density: more fat, weaker bones.

The good news is that the study also found the opposite was true: Men with more lean mass had higher bone mineral density; lower fat mass, stronger bones. That means you can reverse the two strikes against you simply by losing weight and maximizing lean (muscle) mass with diet and exercise. Findings appear in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.

While women generally have higher levels of body fat and higher osteoporosis risk than men with age (due to body composition and hormonal changes, respectively), men aren't out of the woods on either count. Talk to your doctor about how you can avoid the one-two punch of weight gain and bone issues as you age with a single swing.