What do you predict would happen if a person did aerobic exercise but did not work to build muscle?

A.
Person's metabolism would be slow from lack of muscle

B.
Person's weight would keep going down over time

C.
Person's weight would remain the same over time

1 answer

A person who engages in aerobic exercise but does not focus on building muscle could experience different outcomes, but the most likely prediction based on the options provided is:

A. Person's metabolism would be slow from lack of muscle.

Muscle tissue is metabolically active, meaning it burns more calories at rest compared to fat tissue. Therefore, if a person does not engage in strength training to build or maintain muscle mass, their overall metabolic rate may be lower than if they also included muscle-building activities in their routine.

While some weight loss may occur due to the calorie-burning effects of aerobic exercise, without muscle-building efforts, there may also be potential for a person to lose muscle mass over time, which could further decrease their metabolism. Options B and C could happen depending on various factors such as overall diet, duration of exercise, and individual metabolism, but option A best reflects a primary physiological consequence of not building muscle alongside aerobic exercise.