Cancer is the most documented clinical state in which survival is directly linked to the maintenance of muscle mass. Cancer is associated with a rapid loss of muscle mass and strength at a rate faster than would normally occur because of decreased protein intake alone.

Survival from a variety of cancers is directly related to how well the muscle mass is maintained.

This is because the ability to withstand the rigors of chemotherapy and radiation therapy is directly related to muscle mass and strength.

Muscle Also Helps Strengthen Your Heart...

Heart attacks and strokes are more common and usually more disastrous in individuals with depleted muscle mass. To say it another way...

"those with healthier muscles live longer..."

Survival from other serious diseases, such as chronic obstructive lung disease and heart failure, is also better in individuals with greater muscle mass.

Muscle Helps Fight off Obesity

Muscle also plays a very important role in energy balance and prevention of obesity. The process of continous synthesis and breakdown of muscle can be calculated. here is the equation...

10kg of lean muscle = 100kcal/d

That means a person who has 30kg more muscle mass than another person will burn approximately 300 kcal more energy every single day at rest... even more during exercise.

The Results: 

The person with more muscle mass can burn off as much as 30 pounds of fat in a year, all without trying!!

Muscle burns fat because muscle is always burning, even while you are sleeping.This is another powerful reason for working to increase your muscle mass.

So as you work to strengthen your body and increase muscle size, knowing that you are simultaneously fighting diabetes, bone loss, cancer, heart issues and obesity is encouraging.

Strong muscles are perhaps the greatest defense against weight gain, sickness and aging!

Building the muscle mass and strength you want is also incredibly healthy!!

Dr Robert Wolfe: Build It Stronger