Here’s something you probably never thought of before— your hand grip could actually reveal how healthy you are. Forget fancy blood tests or fitness trackers; the strength in your palm might be quietly predicting your future health, longevity, and even your risk of premature death. Sounds dramatic? Not really. According to Apollo neurologist and new global research, your hand grip is one of the most underrated health signals out there.
Dr Sudhir Kumar, a neurologist at Apollo Hospitals, recently took to X to share a crucial reminder that’s now backed by science. He wrote that poor hand grip strength is linked to a higher risk of obesity-related complications, including premature death. His advice was simple yet powerful — improving muscle mass and strength is just as important as losing fat if you want a longer, healthier life.
What does the study say?
The insight comes right after a major study titled “Handgrip Strength and Trajectories of Preclinical Obesity Progression: A Multistate Model Analysis Using the UK Biobank”, published on October 15, 2025. The research analysed over 8,000 death events from a massive dataset spanning 13.4 years and found something fascinating: people with stronger grip strength had significantly lower risks of obesity-related dysfunctions and early death.
To put it simply, every small increase in grip strength translates into a measurable drop in health risks. Those with the highest grip strength had the most protection across all models, especially in preventing the transition from early metabolic dysfunctions to severe disease and mortality. The data showed that better grip strength didn’t just help with fitness; it literally meant a longer, healthier life.
But that’s not all. The study also highlighted that traditional ways of measuring health, like BMI, can be misleading. While BMI often labels people as overweight or obese, muscle mass and functional strength tell a deeper story. For instance, among older adults (especially over 70), being slightly overweight by BMI standards actually showed protective effects against mortality — but only if their muscle strength was preserved.
The takeaway is both simple and game-changing: the scale isn’t the whole story. You can’t just aim to lose weight; you need to build strength, too. Muscle weakness has long been linked with central obesity, higher risks of chronic diseases, and even faster physical decline. So, while the fitness world often glorifies cardio and calorie deficits, it might be time to pay more attention to the barbell, resistance bands. As Dr Kumar and the study both stress, muscle strength can protect you against obesity, disease, and premature ageing.
Dr Sudhir Kumar, a neurologist at Apollo Hospitals, recently took to X to share a crucial reminder that’s now backed by science. He wrote that poor hand grip strength is linked to a higher risk of obesity-related complications, including premature death. His advice was simple yet powerful — improving muscle mass and strength is just as important as losing fat if you want a longer, healthier life.
*Poor Hand grip strength is associated with higher risk of obesity-related complications including premature death.
— Dr Sudhir Kumar MD DM (@hyderabaddoctor) October 26, 2025
*For better health and greater longevity, focus on increasing muscle mass and strength, in addition to reducing adiposity. pic.twitter.com/98toKNihes
What does the study say?
The insight comes right after a major study titled “Handgrip Strength and Trajectories of Preclinical Obesity Progression: A Multistate Model Analysis Using the UK Biobank”, published on October 15, 2025. The research analysed over 8,000 death events from a massive dataset spanning 13.4 years and found something fascinating: people with stronger grip strength had significantly lower risks of obesity-related dysfunctions and early death.
To put it simply, every small increase in grip strength translates into a measurable drop in health risks. Those with the highest grip strength had the most protection across all models, especially in preventing the transition from early metabolic dysfunctions to severe disease and mortality. The data showed that better grip strength didn’t just help with fitness; it literally meant a longer, healthier life.
But that’s not all. The study also highlighted that traditional ways of measuring health, like BMI, can be misleading. While BMI often labels people as overweight or obese, muscle mass and functional strength tell a deeper story. For instance, among older adults (especially over 70), being slightly overweight by BMI standards actually showed protective effects against mortality — but only if their muscle strength was preserved.
The takeaway is both simple and game-changing: the scale isn’t the whole story. You can’t just aim to lose weight; you need to build strength, too. Muscle weakness has long been linked with central obesity, higher risks of chronic diseases, and even faster physical decline. So, while the fitness world often glorifies cardio and calorie deficits, it might be time to pay more attention to the barbell, resistance bands. As Dr Kumar and the study both stress, muscle strength can protect you against obesity, disease, and premature ageing.
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