Maintaining a high level of Muscle mass is key to living a longer life, regardless of a person’s level of fat mass, according to new research.

The analysis from the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA – published in the American Journal of Cardiology – found that cardiovascular disease patients who have high muscle mass and low fat mass have a lower mortality risk than those with other body compositions, but added that high muscle mass was the more important factor.

The researchers examined data from the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1999 to 2004, of 6,451 participants who had prevalent cardiovascular disease.

The findings highlight the importance of maintaining muscle mass, rather than focusing on weight loss, in order to prolong life, even in people who have a higher cardiovascular risk. The authors suggest that clinicians encourage their patients to participate in resistance exercises as a part of healthy lifestyle changes, rather than focusing primarily on weight loss.

The research serves to further underline the importance of exercise in relation to ageing and builds on a recent study which showed regular strength training is key to avoiding a premature death.