Can you build muscle in a calorie deficit? The science of body recomposition
Dr. Bruno Rodriguez, DPT, CSCS: Strength, Recovery, and Physical Therapy Expert
Dec 29, 2025 · 10 min read
Conventional gym wisdom says you have to choose between bulking up or cutting down. New research on body recomposition suggests you might be able to do both, provided you respect the limits of male physiology. “The idea that you cannot build muscle while losing fat is an outdated binary. The male body is capable of ...