Why gaining muscle didn't help blood sugar in some women
Muscle mass and insulin sensitivity in postmenopausal women after 6-month exercise training
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Some women did exercise for 6 months and gained muscle, but their bodies got worse at handling sugar. Even though they lost fat and weight, the more muscle they gained, the harder it was for their body to use insulin properly.
Surprising Findings
Increases in muscle mass were associated with worsening insulin resistance after 6 months of exercise training.
This contradicts the widely accepted belief that building muscle improves glucose metabolism and insulin sensitivity. Most guidelines assume muscle gain is universally beneficial.
Practical Takeaways
Focus on improving muscle quality and reducing fat mass, not just gaining muscle, especially for overweight postmenopausal women.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Some women did exercise for 6 months and gained muscle, but their bodies got worse at handling sugar. Even though they lost fat and weight, the more muscle they gained, the harder it was for their body to use insulin properly.
Surprising Findings
Increases in muscle mass were associated with worsening insulin resistance after 6 months of exercise training.
This contradicts the widely accepted belief that building muscle improves glucose metabolism and insulin sensitivity. Most guidelines assume muscle gain is universally beneficial.
Practical Takeaways
Focus on improving muscle quality and reducing fat mass, not just gaining muscle, especially for overweight postmenopausal women.
Publication
Journal
Climacteric
Year
2015
Authors
B. K. J. Glouzon, R. Barsalani, Jean‐Christophe Lagacé, I. Dionne
Related Content
Claims (4)
In women who are postmenopausal, not very active, and carry extra weight, having more muscle doesn’t always mean better blood sugar control — sometimes those with bigger muscles actually have worse insulin resistance.
In women who are overweight or obese after menopause, gaining muscle from exercise without cutting calories might actually make the body worse at handling blood sugar — so more muscle doesn’t always mean better health in this group.
Lifting weights to build muscle can help your body store more sugar and improve blood sugar control over time, leading to lower fasting blood sugar and better insulin sensitivity.
If inactive, overweight women who've gone through menopause do a mix of cardio and strength training for 6 months, they'll likely lose weight, drop body fat, and improve their blood sugar levels.