Body composition does not stay static throughout your life. Starting in your 30s, most adults begin losing approximately 3-8% of their muscle mass per decade -- a process called sarcopenia. This gradual decline in lean tissue slows your resting metabolic rate, meaning your body burns fewer calories at rest even if your activity level has not changed. The result is a slow, steady shift toward higher body fat percentages that can feel impossible to reverse through diet and exercise alone.
Hormonal changes compound the problem. Declining estrogen, testosterone, and growth hormone levels -- common during perimenopause, menopause, and andropause -- accelerate fat storage, particularly around the abdomen and midsection. Visceral fat, the deep fat surrounding your organs, becomes increasingly stubborn. Sedentary work environments, chronic stress, poor sleep quality, and genetic predisposition further contribute to unfavorable body composition. For patients in Traverse City, Petoskey, Cadillac, and surrounding communities, understanding these underlying factors is the first step toward a targeted, effective solution.
