“Sarcopenia” is the term given to muscle wastage that occurs as part of the ageing process and can be one of the reasons people are unaware that their body composition is beginning to change. Potentially you could stay the same weight and have measurably similar limb or trunk circumferences, but actually have lost muscle mass and gained fat. This process can be offset by the right kinds of exercise, but it’s a concern because loss of muscle mass is directly related to loss of functional strength as well as balance. In fact the three main risk factors for falls in the elderly are low muscle mass, balance, and the number of prescription drugs that person is taking.