Cover Story Current Issue

Postpartum (PP) maternal mortality remains alarmingly high, with a rate of 32.9 per 100,000 live births in 2021 in the United States. Cardiovascular diseases, including peripartum/postpartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) and coronary heart disease, are among the leading causes of PP morbidity and mortality. Although socioeconomic status and the level of PP care can influence the mortality rate, the underlying mechanisms leading to PPCM are not well understood. PPCM is clinically defined as (1) the development of the disease in the last month of pregnancy or within 5 months of delivery, (2) absence of pre-existing heart disease prior to the last month of pregnancy, (3) unknown cause of heart failure, and (4) left ventricular systolic dysfunction. Prognosis remains poor, with full recovery reported in only 23% of affected individuals and 50% experiencing heart failure-related mortality due to limited therapeutic options. Limited studies in both humans and mouse models of PPCM have proposed several potential mechanisms, including inflammation, viral myocarditis, autoimmune reactions, oxidative stress, and apoptosis, resulting from environmental as well as genetic factors. Studying these mechanisms in animal models, particularly those involving genetic causes, has been difficult due to the lack of severity or relevance of existing mouse models of PPCM to the human disease.

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Current Issue

Are we giving too much weight to lean mass loss?

Jeffery Bolte, Annie A. Smelter, Luke Norton

Are we giving too much weight to lean mass loss?

The global rise in obesity has underscored the critical importance of body composition, particularly the balance between fat mass and lean mass, in determining health outcomes. While excess fat mass is a well-established risk factor for numerous chronic diseases and reduced longevity, lean mass preservation has been widely considered essential for mitigating fall risk and maintaining functional independence. Recent advances in incretin-based weight loss therapies have shown remarkable efficacy in reducing body weight but have raised concerns about the concomitant loss of lean mass. However, emerging evidence suggests that muscle quality – rather than absolute muscle mass – is a more robust predictor of functional capacity and all-cause mortality. Intriguingly, these therapies may enhance muscle quality even while promoting lean mass loss, offering a nuanced perspective on their impact. This review aims to synthesize current evidence on body composition, muscle quality, and weight loss therapies to guide clinicians in tailoring weight loss strategies that optimize both metabolic health and patient outcomes.

Articles in Press

Are we giving too much weight to lean mass loss?

Jeffery Bolte, Annie A. Smelter, Luke Norton

Are we giving too much weight to lean mass loss?

The global rise in obesity has underscored the critical importance of body composition, particularly the balance between fat mass and lean mass, in determining health outcomes. While excess fat mass is a well-established risk factor for numerous chronic diseases and reduced longevity, lean mass preservation has been widely considered essential for mitigating fall risk and maintaining functional independence. Recent advances in incretin-based weight loss therapies have shown remarkable efficacy in reducing body weight but have raised concerns about the concomitant loss of lean mass. However, emerging evidence suggests that muscle quality – rather than absolute muscle mass – is a more robust predictor of functional capacity and all-cause mortality. Intriguingly, these therapies may enhance muscle quality even while promoting lean mass loss, offering a nuanced perspective on their impact. This review aims to synthesize current evidence on body composition, muscle quality, and weight loss therapies to guide clinicians in tailoring weight loss strategies that optimize both metabolic health and patient outcomes.

Opening Abstract Submission & Registration

13th
Helmholtz Diabetes Conference 
Munich, 21-23. Sep 2026                                                                                                                             

2024 impact factor: 6.6

You are what you eat

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