The Naughty and Nice list of body fat levels and muscle mass for men and women in their 40s

The Naughty and Nice list of body fat levels and muscle mass for men and women in their 40s

Author: Jihane Farrell, Functional Health Coach, PhD, former research scientist December 15, 2025 Duration: 43:21
Body composition is your muscle-to-fat ratio and it is predictive of our longevity. People with highest muscle mass and ideal body fat live the longest and have the highest quality of life as they age.  Ideally, men carry around 15% body fat and women around 20%. Studies find that healthy men carry more than 40% of their body weight as muscle and for women more than 34%. Finally, with body fat, it's not just total percentage that matters but also location. Visceral fat is the type of fat that gets stored deep inside our abdomen: what shows as belly fat in men, and in women at menopause. And visceral fat is deadly. Linked to cardiovascular disease and metabolic dysfunction, it is associated with an increase in mortality risk of 10% for every 10cm above normal around the waist . Instead of focusing on body weight and weight loss, we get greater returns on our health and longevity when we focus on body composition aka muscle-to-fat ratio.  In this episode you will hear: - How hard is it really to achieve ideal body composition? - What hurts body composition: the Naughty list for body fat, belly fat and muscle mass. - What everyone can do to improve body composition: the Nice list for body fat, belly fat and muscle mass. - What you need more than working hard and replacing your time on the treadmill. Listen to the end to get the blueprint for re-composing your body, and looking your best this new year.    Ready to take action? I want to support you 🎗️Grab a coaching session calendly.com/jihanefarrell/belly-busting-session 📏 Get your data: Get 10% off your body composition scale using https://renpho.com/discount/DRJIHANE?ref=lxnrxtkq 🤝 Curious to see if the 12-week program is for you? Go to https://www.drjihanefarrell.com/longevitylifestylecoaching 🤜🤛Join the free community https://www.facebook.com/groups/losebellyfatafter40 📩 Sign up for weekly evidence-based tips in your inbox: https://jihanefarrellphd.kit.com/e30225ecd8Email me your questions: info@drjihanefarrell.com  

Navigating fitness after 40 can feel like a puzzle where the old pieces no longer fit. 40s Fitness Reset is for anyone who’s tired of generic advice that ignores the biological shifts of midlife, particularly the stubborn accumulation of visceral fat. Host Jihane Farrell brings a unique perspective to this podcast, merging her background as a former aging research scientist and PhD-level longevity coach with her practical role as an ADAPT-Certified Functional Health Coach. The conversations here move beyond simplistic calorie counting to explore a longevity-focused, science-backed approach. You’ll hear discussions on why traditional weight loss methods often fail at this stage and what truly works for sustainable change. Episodes break down actionable strategies for time-effective, high-return habits that target metabolic health and body composition, not just the number on the scale. It’s about building a resilient physiology for the decades ahead. Jihane translates complex research into clear steps, offering a realistic reset for those ready to move past frustration. This isn’t about another drastic diet; it’s a thoughtful recalibration of how we think about energy, movement, and aging. Tune in for a blend of evidence and empathy, designed to help you reclaim agency over your health and feel strong in your own skin again.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

Lose Belly Fat After 40 | Weight loss, Healthy meals, Imbalanced hormones, Body Recomposition, Strength training
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