{"id":379568,"date":"2026-04-07T13:05:09","date_gmt":"2026-04-07T13:05:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/379568\/"},"modified":"2026-04-07T13:05:09","modified_gmt":"2026-04-07T13:05:09","slug":"lifestyle-choices-not-just-aging-linked-to-muscle-loss-expert","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/379568\/","title":{"rendered":"Lifestyle choices, not just aging, linked to muscle loss: Expert"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Professor Murat Kara, a faculty member at the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine, has warned that not only aging but also lifestyle choices can significantly increase the risk of muscle loss and chronic diseases.<\/p>\n<p>Speaking to Anadolu Agency (AA) during the 31st National Congress of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation organized by the Turkish Society of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Kara explained that sarcopenia refers to a decline in muscle strength and performance, particularly in the arms and legs.<\/p>\n<p>He emphasized that sarcopenia is closely linked not only to aging but also to increased risks of disease and mortality. \u201cAs the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dailysabah.com\/turkiye\/turkiyes-elderly-population-grows-as-life-expectancy-improves\/news\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">population<\/a> ages, the importance of this condition continues to grow,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p>&#8216;Artificial intelligence aids early diagnosis&#8217;<\/p>\n<p>Kara noted that both in T\u00fcrkiye and across Europe, the number of aging individuals with changing body composition is rising. He highlighted advancements in imaging technologies used for screening and monitoring such conditions.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThrough pixel analysis in imaging techniques and ultrasound evaluations, we can assess muscle morphology and quality,\u201d Kara said. \u201cBy integrating <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dailysabah.com\/business\/tech\/ai-awareness-usage-in-turkiye-outpace-global-average-study\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">artificial intelligence<\/a>, we will be able to conduct more detailed analyses and obtain comprehensive data on muscle health.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He added that AI systems can be trained using large datasets of patient images, enabling more accurate evaluation of new cases. \u201cArtificial intelligence can provide clearer and more precise data,\u201d he stated, stressing that early detection significantly improves treatment outcomes.<\/p>\n<p>Lifestyle factors increase risk<\/p>\n<p>According to Kara, individuals at higher risk of muscle loss include those who are obese, suffer from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dailysabah.com\/life\/health\/hypertension-driven-by-obesity-poverty-who-study-shows\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">hypertension<\/a> or diabetes, follow unhealthy diets or lead sedentary lifestyles. Rapid weight loss can also contribute to muscle deterioration.<\/p>\n<p>To detect muscle loss, simple functional tests are often used. \u201cIf a person struggles to sit down and stand up, climb stairs, rise from a squatting position, or experiences reduced walking speed, it may indicate developing muscle loss,\u201d Kara explained. \u201cMuscles are responsible for quick, strength-based movements and when affected, overall mobility slows down.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Preventive measures for healthy aging<\/p>\n<p>Kara emphasized that adopting a healthy lifestyle is key to preventing or slowing muscle loss. He recommended regular physical activity such as walking, light jogging and strength exercises like squats, along with a protein-rich diet.<\/p>\n<p>Maintaining control over chronic conditions like hypertension and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dailysabah.com\/life\/health\/world-diabetes-day-bringing-silent-pandemic-into-spotlight\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">diabetes<\/a>, as well as ensuring adequate sunlight exposure for vitamin D, are also crucial. \u201cVitamin D deficiency can exacerbate muscle loss,\u201d he noted.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cLifestyle changes are essential to halt muscle loss. The earlier it is detected, the greater the chance not only to manage sarcopenia but also to prevent other chronic diseases,\u201d Kara said, adding that many chronic conditions are linked to physical inactivity.<\/p>\n<p>He concluded by stressing that while chronic diseases can accelerate muscle loss, regular physical activity plays a vital role in preventing both.<\/p>\n<p>                    <img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/JN9LXf.png\" alt=\"\"\/><\/p>\n<p>\n                    The Daily Sabah Newsletter\n                <\/p>\n<p>\n                    Keep up to date with what\u2019s happening in Turkey,<br \/>\n                    it\u2019s region and the world.\n                <\/p>\n<p>                    SIGN ME UP\n                <\/p>\n<p>\n                    You can unsubscribe at any time. By signing up you are agreeing to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.<br \/>\n                    This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.\n                <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Professor Murat Kara, a faculty member at the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Hacettepe University Faculty&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":379569,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[4157,52447,163,85,46,231,11015,34994],"class_list":{"0":"post-379568","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-health","8":"tag-aging","9":"tag-diagnosis","10":"tag-health","11":"tag-il","12":"tag-israel","13":"tag-lifestyle","14":"tag-muscle-loss","15":"tag-sarcopenia"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/379568","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=379568"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/379568\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/379569"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=379568"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=379568"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=379568"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}