Seven out of 10 Filipinos aged 65 and older may be affected by sarcopenia, or the gradual loss of muscle mass and strength, according to a recent study.

Global healthcare company Abbott, citing data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), said approximately 12 percent of the country’s population will be 65 and older by 2050. This, the company said, underscores the urgent need to raise awareness, promote early detection, and implement targeted interventions.

Dr. Gamaliel Tayao, Abbott’s head of medical affairs in the Philippines, highlighted the importance of safeguarding the health and autonomy of older Filipinos while easing the strain on the country’s public health system.

“Muscle health is foundational to aging well — not just for mobility, but for immunity, recovery, and independence,” Tayao said, noting that despite its high prevalence, sarcopenia remains significantly underdiagnosed in the Philippines.

Muscle loss often begins subtly. Starting as early as age 40, adults can lose up to eight percent of their muscle mass per decade, with the rate accelerating after age 60. This decline affects more than just physical strength — it also compromises metabolic health, immune function, mobility, and overall quality of life.

Early signs of sarcopenia include slower walking speed, persistent fatigue, and reduced stamina.

Tayao recommended proactive steps to preserve strength and vitality, such as incorporating strength-building exercises like mini squats and wall push-ups. Even daily activities such as walking or gardening can help maintain muscle function.

He also advised regular checkups to monitor muscle mass, gait speed, and other health markers to detect early signs of decline.

Additionally, Tayao encouraged older adults to use simple screening tools — such as the sit-to-stand test, handgrip strength test, or four-meter gait speed test — to help identify early muscle weakness and enable timely intervention.Seven out of 10 Filipinos aged 65 and above may be affected by sarcopenia or the gradual decline in muscle and mass strength, a study found.

Global healthcare company Abbott, citing the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), said that approximately 12 percent of the country's population will be aged 65 and above by 2050, stressing an urgent need to raise awareness, promote early detection, and implement targeted interventions.

Dr. Gamaliel Tayao, Abbott's head of medical affairs in the Philippines, underscored the efforts to safeguard the health autonomy of older Filipinos as well as to ease the growing strain on the country's public health systems.

"Muscle health is foundational to aging well--not just for mobility, but for immunity, recovery, and independence," Tayao said, noting that despite its high prevalence, sarcopenia remains significantly underdiagnosed in the Philippines.

Muscle loss often begins subtly--starting as early as age 40, adults lose up to eight percent of their muscle mass per decade, with the rate accelerating after age 60.

This decline affects more than just physical strength as it also compromises metabolic health, immune function, mobility, and overall quality of life.

Early signs of sarcopenia include slower walking speed, persistent fatigue, and reduced stamina.

Tayao, meanwhile, recommended proactive steps to preserving their strength and vitality, such as incorporating strength-building exercises, such as mini squats and wall push-ups. Even daily activities like walking or gardening help maintain muscle function.

He also recommended regular check-ups to check muscle mass, gait speed, and other health markers to catch early signs of decline.

Further, he also urged elderly Filipinos to use simple screening tools such as the sit-to-stand, handgrip strength test, of four-meter gait speed to help identify early muscle weakness and prompt timely intervention.