Intermuscular Fat: A Review of the Consequences and Causes

Figure 3

Two women with similar age, BMI, and levels of lean muscle mass but with differing levels of IMAT in a cross-sectional MRI image of the thigh. Subject 7 has double the level of IMAT (black within the muscle) in her thigh as subject 44. While both women have similar levels of lean tissue (seen in grey), they have different levels of mobility and muscle function. The increased levels of IMAT and decreased muscle and mobility function of subject 7 are consistent with literature that reports that increased levels of IMAT are associated with decreased muscle and mobility function.