Risk of falls, diabetes, and dementia starts in your legs, says renowned gut doctor

After 40, declining leg strength raises risk of falls, fractures, loss of independence and even higher mortality, as per a renowned gut doctor on Instagram. 

Saurabh Sethi,  Gastroenterologist , who has trained from Harvard and Stanford, recently revealed on his instagram handle about how strong legs predict prolonged life.

 He disclosed how it is not the BMI or the weight that predicts longevity but strong legs. Adding to the fact that, after the age of 40, declination of the strength in legs starts, which raises the risks of fall, fractures, loss of independence and mortality.

“Your legs hold over half of your total muscle mass. Your biggest metabolic engine lives in your lower body. The leg muscle supports better glucose handling, a stronger metabolism, better balance & stability,” he said in his post.

Sethi highlighted the critical role of leg strength in metabolic and brain health, noting that skeletal muscle is responsible for clearing most of the glucose from the bloodstream after meals. According to him, weak leg muscles can impair glucose control, leading to higher insulin levels and increased accumulation of visceral fat. 

He added that lower-body strength is not just about mobility, but also has significant implications for long-term metabolic stability.

He also pointed to growing evidence linking leg strength to cognitive health. “Strong legs are associated with better memory, faster cognitive processing, and a lower risk of dementia,” he said.

He suggested that common signs of declining leg strength include avoiding stairs, difficulty getting up from the floor, and feeling unusually fatigued during long walks, emphasizing that these early signals should not be ignored.

As per his post, which now has over 36,000 likes, here are the ways to boost your leg strength–

• Squats, lunges, step-ups

• Resistance bands or bodyweight

• Walking uphill or taking stairs daily

“Build strength now for decades of independence, energy, and stability,” he said, concluding his post.