171. Strength is Health: Muscle and Metabolic Health with Dr. Michael Beyaert
In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Michael Beyaert — a General Internist trained at the University of Toronto with a special interest in cardiovascular disease. With a background in Nutrition and Dietetics (Western University) and a Master’s in Neuroscience (McMaster), he brings a rare, practical lens to metabolic health that connects medicine, nutrition, and the brain.
We dig into what body composition actually means, why visceral fat is so metabolically harmful, and why muscle and strength may be the most overlooked health markers in modern weight loss conversations.
We also talk about sarcopenia (age-related muscle loss), why rapid weight loss can increase risk, and what we actually know — and don’t know — about “safe” amounts of muscle loss during weight reduction, including with GLP-1 medications.
Most importantly, Dr. Beyaert shares the real-world advice he gives patients: prioritize strength training, fuel your body (especially protein), monitor the rate of weight loss, and shift your focus from the scale to outcomes like strength, function, and quality of life.
If you take one thing from this episode, it’s this: strength is health — and rather than obsessing over losing the next 10 pounds, most people would benefit more from gaining their first pound of muscle.
Home BIA Scale Options We recommend one of two at-home BIA scales that you can easily purchase from Amazon.ca:
8-electrode BIA scale (higher accuracy): Provides more precise data by measuring arms, legs, and trunk separately
Standard foot-to-foot BIA scale (more affordable): Still effective for tracking overall trends
Both options are acceptable. The most important factor is consistency.
WORK WITH US
Ontario-Wide Virtual Obesity Management Clinic
https://www.highmetabolicclinic.com
Join my Weight Loss Coaching Program for women, Best Weight https://www.sashahighmd.com/bestweight
Recover Strong for Binge Eating
https://www.sashahighmd.com/bed
Taking the first step toward weight loss can feel overwhelming — but you don’t have to do it alone. I’ve created a curated list of my podcast episodes to gently guide you as you begin your journey. https://www.sashahighmd.com/podcast-guide
