"The corollary of this is that building muscle, which requires eating a lot, is inferior to being a skinny rake for longevity alone." Not true. Stronger people

"The corollary of this is that building muscle, which requires eating a lot, is inferior to being a skinny rake for longevity alone." Not true. Stronger people are less likely to die. Strength reduces your risk of death from all causes - and cancer in particular. "[The inverse relationship between] muscular strength and death from all causes and cancer persisted after further adjustment for cardiorespiratory fitness; however, the association between muscular strength and death from cardiovascular disease was attenuated after further adjustment for cardiorespiratory fitness." Source: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2453303/ http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2453303/