November is now officially designated National Muscle Health Month, a dedicated time to raise awareness around the necessity of building muscle mass for improved healthspan and increased longevity. Spearheaded by Dr. Gabrielle Lyon, board-certified physician and author of Forever Strong, the goal of National Muscle Health Month is to inspire people of all ages to build, protect, and prioritize strength and muscle health for well-being and longevity.
Dr. Lyon is a leading voice in educating the public that muscle is medicine and, as a result, created the Muscle-Centric Medicine® movement, which focuses on optimizing skeletal muscle through nutrition, exercise, and lifestyle. Skeletal muscle is the largest body organ in terms of mass and is essential for metabolism, immunity, mobility, cognition, and longevity. Yet, muscle loss, or sarcopenia, is often overlooked in public health and in personal healthcare conversations until it becomes advanced and debilitating. Today, more than 80% of Americans fail to meet basic muscle-strengthening guidelines, and over 50% of older adults have clinically low muscle mass. Sarcopenia, also known as frailty, now has an official insurance diagnosis code, M62.84.
Recognizing this urgent need for an awareness shift, Dr. Lyon launched the concept of National Muscle Health Month to reposition building muscle as essential, proactive healthcare. She has redefined how we think about muscle, not as an aesthetic pursuit, but as a medical necessity.
“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 celebrate National Muscle Health Month, Dr. Lyon created the “Muscle 30” challenge and giveaway. Every week this November, Dr. Lyon will choose one person who exemplifies the Muscle-Centric Medicine® lifestyle to win great swag and prizes.
How to enter:
- Record yourself doing any one of the following: eating or prepping a meal with 30g of protein, walking 3,000 steps, doing 30 reps of your favorite strength move (e.g., push up or squat).
- Share on Instagram and tag @drgabriellelyon and #MuscleHealthMonth
As a follow-up to her New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling book, Forever Strong, Dr. Lyon will be releasing The Forever Strong PLAYBOOK on January 27, 2026. The Playbook features the most up-to-date wellness research in nutrition, functional movement, and mental clarity, and also includes science-driven and experience-backed protocols grounded in her principles of Muscle-Centric Medicine® that put skeletal muscle at the center of health and well-being. It’s not teaching people what to avoid, but instead how to take action to protect and increase their musclespan.
To learn more, follow Dr. Lyon on Instagram at @drgabriellelyon and the hashtag #MuscleHealthMonth.
Dr. Gabrielle Lyon is a physician, educator, and author of the New York Times bestseller FOREVER STRONG: A New, Science-Based Strategy for Aging Well. Her latest book, The Forever Strong PLAYBOOK, will be released on January 27, 2026.
Dr. Lyon’s educational and research background includes dual clinical fellowships in geriatrics and nutritional sciences at Washington University, along with undergraduate training in nutritional sciences at the University of Illinois. She is an authority in the practical application of protein types and levels for health, performance, aging, and disease prevention. Dr. Lyon also works closely with members of the United States Special Operations Forces.
Through her thriving private practice, TEDx Talk, YouTube channel, podcast, online community, and bestselling book, Dr. Lyon is dedicated to empowering people to foster strength and well-being in the weight room and in their daily lives and communities.
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