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Muscle Loss and Aging

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Despite Risks, Americans Are Not Taking Action To Protect Themselves Against

Muscle Loss As They Age

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/191711.php

Nearly nine in 10 people think feeling weaker is one of the worst parts about

aging, according to a recent survey commissioned by Abbott (NYSE: ABT) and

developed in conjunction with the AGS Foundation for Health in Aging, a

nonprofit dedicated to the health and well-being of older adults, which provided

expert, independent review. But while 70 percent of Americans say they are

concerned about muscle loss, close to 90 percent of Americans over the age of 45

are not taking critical steps, like making both daily exercise and proper

nutrition part of their daily routines, to protect their muscles as they get

older.

" Muscle loss is a serious issue that can lead to severe health and lifestyle

consequences, yet building and maintaining muscle isn't top of mind for most

adults, " said Granieri, M.D., M.P.H., MSEd, Columbia University College

of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, who provided expert input into the survey

before it was fielded. " Especially with an aging baby boomer population, it's

important that people take charge of their health and take action now so that

they can continue doing the things they enjoy in the future. "

Facts on Muscle Loss and Aging

- Clinical research shows that starting at age 40, the body can lose eight

percent of muscle per decade, which can lead to loss of strength, mobility and

the freedom to enjoy daily life.

- In fact, one in three Americans surveyed over age 45 point directly to their

loss of strength or mobility as the reason for giving up activities they once

enjoyed.

- Yet, despite the risks associated with muscle loss, of those surveyed, only a

quarter make both a balanced diet and resistance training part of their everyday

routine and 80 percent of Americans over age 45 have never discussed the issue

with their physician.

Facts on Muscle Health for People in Recovery

- For people suffering from illness, injury or recovering from surgery, the

impact of muscle loss is even more severe.

- The same study found that nearly 70 percent of patients who suffered a serious

medical setback did not expect muscle loss to be a problem during their

recovery.

- Nevertheless, approximately 60 percent of recently hospitalized survey

respondents did report a noticeable loss in muscle mass.

- After discharge, less than a third changed their diet to help combat this

muscle loss.

" With a rapidly growing aging population in the U.S., muscle health is an

important issue that everyone over the age of 40 should seriously consider, "

said Dr. Granieri. " Talking to your doctor or dietitian is a great way to

establish small steps to take to protect your muscle health today so you can

have a much more active and productive life as you age. "

About the Survey

The survey was conducted on behalf of Abbott among 1,000 nationally

representative Americans ages 18 and older, with an oversample of 200 interviews

among American adults who have suffered from a serious, temporary illness or

injury in the past year. The interviews were conducted online by Wakefield

Research between February 10 and February 16, 2010. The AGS Foundation for

Health in Aging provided expert, independent review on the survey in advance of

its release. Quotas were set to ensure reliable and accurate representation of

the total U.S. population over ages 18 and older. The margin of sampling error

is +/- 3.1 percentage points for the national component of the study and +/- 6.9

percentage points for the recent patient oversample.

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