National Muscle Health Month Encourages Americans to Build and Protect Muscle
Krissy Vann | Host, All Things Fitness and Wellness
November has officially been designated National Muscle Health Month, a new initiative aimed at raising awareness about the importance of building and maintaining muscle for improved health and longevity. The campaign was founded by Dr. Gabrielle Lyon, a board-certified physician and author of Forever Strong, who has become a leading advocate for viewing muscle as a cornerstone of overall health.
Dr. Lyon, creator of the Muscle-Centric Medicine movement, has long emphasized that skeletal muscle plays a critical role beyond physical appearance. It supports metabolism, immunity, mobility, cognition, and long-term vitality. Despite this, muscle loss—known as sarcopenia—often goes unaddressed until it leads to significant frailty. Current data shows that more than 80 percent of Americans do not meet the minimum muscle-strengthening activity guidelines, and over half of older adults have clinically low muscle mass. Sarcopenia now carries an official insurance diagnosis code, M62.84, underscoring its growing recognition as a medical concern.
Recognizing this gap in public health awareness, Dr. Lyon launched National Muscle Health Month to encourage individuals to view strength as a form of preventive medicine. “Strength should attract the same attention as cardiovascular and mental health awareness campaigns,” said Dr. Lyon. “National Muscle Health Month is designed to shed light upon a condition we all face as we age, and one we can do something about starting now.”
To engage the public, Dr. Lyon introduced the “Muscle 30” challenge on Instagram, encouraging participants to share short clips of muscle-supporting activities such as preparing a protein-rich meal, walking 3,000 steps, or completing 30 repetitions of a favorite strength exercise. Each week in November, one participant will be selected to receive prizes and branded merchandise celebrating the initiative.
Dr. Lyon’s work has been central to reframing muscle as an essential organ system for longevity and disease prevention. Through her ongoing educational efforts and her bestselling book Forever Strong, she continues to advocate for proactive approaches to muscle health across all stages of life. Her next publication, The Forever Strong PLAYBOOK, will be released on January 27, 2026, as a companion guide offering practical tools and strategies for implementing Muscle-Centric Medicine principles in daily life.
