THE LOSS RATIO

Both muscle and fat are required to keep bones strong and healthy as you try to lose weight, a new study1 suggests. The research highlighted the importance of using diet and exercise to lose weight. It showed that bone health tended to worsen as fat mass increased relative to muscle mass. In other words, as people try to lose weight, they should try to retain – or even gain – muscle mass. ‘Eating well and exercising regularly will give your bones the best chance to prosper,’ says researcher Dr Eimear Dolan.