![\"Dr](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/0_amir-legs.png\")
<\/p>\nThe strength in this part of the body could determine how healthy you will be in older age<\/p>\n
08:16, 10 May 2026Updated 09:35, 10 May 2026<\/p>\n
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Dr Amir issued some advice about healthy ageing(Image: Dr Amir Khan\/Instagram)<\/p>\n
A doctor has revealed that a specific body part is one of the \u201cbiggest\u201d predictors of whether you will age in a healthy way. According to the expert, this can dictate how \u201cresilient\u201d your body is as you get older.<\/p>\n
Living a long life is a goal for many people. However, Dr Amir Khan <\/a>said that it is also important to ensure you live a healthy life for as long as possible<\/a>.<\/p>\n Part of this includes trying to stay fit and strong enough to maintain your independence, Dr Amir said. In a video uploaded to his Instagram<\/a> account, Dr Amir – who is best known for his appearances on ITV<\/a> – explained more.<\/p>\n Yawning is good for you, a cure has been found for one of the world’s most common viruses, junk food is linked to declining attention spans, and why do people get sick on cruises? All this and more in our latest science newsletter<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Speaking to his followers, he said: \u201cCan I tell you about one of the biggest predictors of healthy ageing<\/a> that was nobody talks about?\u201d He then revealed that this can be seen in the legs, or more specifically, your leg strength.<\/p>\n Content cannot be displayed without consent<\/p>\n He continued: \u201cHonestly, as a doctor, when I think about ageing I’m not really thinking about six packs or looking fit, I\u2019m thinking, can you get out of a chair easily?<\/p>\n \u201cCan you climb stairs? Can you stop yourself falling? Can you carry shopping? Can you stay independent?<\/p>\n \u201cBecause your legs are your foundation as you age and medically, leg strength is incredibly important.\u201d<\/p>\n READ MORE: ‘Doctors dismissed my daughter’s seizures as anxiety – now she can’t walk and can only eat blended foods’<\/a>READ MORE: Doctor who ‘didn’t believe in fat jabs’ tried them and lost six stone<\/a>Mobility<\/p>\n One of the obvious reasons for this is maintaining your mobility as you age. Dr Amir said: \u201cFirstly, muscle mass naturally declines with age. This is called sarcopenia.<\/p>\n \u201cFrom around our 30s onwards, we slowly lose the muscle, unless we actively maintain it. And when muscle drops, lots of things happen: balance worsens, fall risk increases, mobility reduces, frailty increases and falls in older age can genuinely change lives.\u201d<\/p>\n Metabolic health<\/p>\n However, it’s \u201cnot just about mobility\u201d. Dr Amir said: \u201cYour leg muscles are also major metabolic organs, they help regulate blood sugar, insulin, inflammation.<\/p>\n \u201cSo stronger muscles are linked to lower risks of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, frailty and loss of independence later in life.\u201d<\/p>\n The ability to stand from a chair without using your hands is associated with longevity and overall health outcomes(Image: Getty)<\/p>\n Testing your legs<\/p>\n Dr Amir said that simple tests regarding your leg strength can therefore reveal more about your health. \u201cAnd here’s something really interesting – walking speed and the ability to stand from a chair without using your hands are actually associated with longevity and overall health outcomes,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cYour body is basically telling us how resistant it is or how resilient it is. And the good news is it’s never too late to improve muscle strength.\u201d<\/p>\n Exercises to do<\/p>\n Dr Amir added: \u201cYou do need to become a big bodybuilder. Simple things matter – walking more, climbing stairs, resistant bands, squats, strength training, getting up and down from the floor.<\/p>\n \u201cBecause one of the biggest goals as we age shouldn’t just be living longer, it should be staying strong enough to live. Strong legs aren’t just about fitness, they’re about your freedom as you age. So work your legs out, people.\u201d<\/p>\n Research<\/p>\n![\"Man](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/0_GettyImages-2223515170.jpg\")
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