Women’s Strength Training: The Cellulite Connection Wayne L. Westcott, Ph.D. According to the United States Centers for Disease Control fewer than 10 percent of American adults perform enough physical activity to attain any measurable improvements in physical fitness (1). Because the majority of active adults are walkers, joggers or group exercisers, a very small percentage of men and women participate in regular strength training. This is particularly problematic for women, who have lighter bodyweight, a lower percentage of lean weight, less muscle mass, and higher risk for osteoporosis than men. As shown in Figure 1, the average woman loses 5 pounds of muscle every decade of adult life, and has reduced her muscle mass by one-third by age 50 (2). Because muscle loss typically doubles during the menopause years, a 60-year old woman may have less than half of her original muscle tissue. The 5-pound per decade muscle loss results in a 5-percent per decade metabolic rate reduction, which leads to a progressive accumulation of fat weight (2). Note that the average American woman adds about 15 pounds of fat every decade during the midlife years (see Figure 1). Consequently, the average 50-year old female has 15 pounds too little muscle and 45 pounds too much fat, for a 60-pound undesirable change in her body composition. She is almost 50 percent fat, which is both unhealthy and unattractive. From a health perspective, too little muscle and too much fat increases the risk of serious degenerative problems such as heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, low back pain, and various types of cancer. From an appearance perspective, too little muscle and too much fat is
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