Muscle mass is the component of body composition that measures the amount of skeletal muscle, or muscle attached to bone, in the body. For instance, in a person with 150 pounds of body weight and a muscle mass of 50 pounds, muscle constitutes approximately one-third of their total body weight.
Muscle mass is a crucial indicator of overall health and fitness. It contributes to strength, mobility, balance, and metabolism. Historically, the importance of muscle mass was recognized by ancient Greek physicians such as Hippocrates, who believed that physical exercise was essential for maintaining health and building muscle.