The power of exercise in preserving muscle mass as we age . What we see here are axial MRI views of the thighs (imagine cutting the thigh in half and looking at a cross-section). Clearly seen is the increased degree of adipose (fat) and muscle atrophy in a sedentary man as opposed to that of a triathlete of similar age. . Pretty convincing evidence to maintain an exercise program throughout our lives! ...and it's absolutely never too late to start! . 📸: Wroblewski AP, et al. Chronic exercise preserves lean muscle mass in masters athletes. Phys Sportsmed, 2011