Higher muscle mass associated with lower mortality risk in heart disease patients

(University of California - Los Angeles Health Sciences) Research finds that cardiovascular disease patients who have high muscle mass and low fat mass have a lower mortality risk than those with other body compositions. The findings also suggest that regardless of a person's level of fat mass, a higher level of muscle mass helps reduce the risk of early death. This research could explain the 'obesity paradox,' which holds that people with a higher BMI have lower mortality levels.