Common Health Myth Debunked

Muscle Turns to Fat if You Don’t Use It: FALSE!

Muscle and fat are two distinct tissues that don’t convert into each other. When you stop exercising, muscles shrink and allow for fats to slide into their place. People who stop exercising also tend to consume the same number of calories they did when they were working out, which means fewer calories out and probable weight gain. And since muscle mass increases the metabolic rate, less muscle means you’re more likely to put on fat weight if you’re eating more and exercising less. All three factors give the illusion of muscle turning to fat. The good news is moderate physical activity can prevent this from happening.