Need another reason to work out? "...while body fat has increased, muscles and bones have deteriorated."

Weighty men lose muscle, bone “Obesity in men is clearly on the rise,” said Professor Julie Pasco, lead investigator of the study. “But an even more alarming finding is that while body fat has increased, muscles and bones have deteriorated. “Obesity is bad enough as it increases the risk for diseases such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes. However we are now seeing that the musculoskeletal system (bones and muscle) could be affected too.” While the changes in muscle and bone mass found in the study are relatively small compared to the increase in body fat, they foretell serious problems for the future as the population ages. “During ageing, bone loss leads to osteoporosis and muscle loss leads to a condition known as sarcopenia which makes people physically weak, less mobile and more dependent,” Professor Pasco said.