What is a negative result of dehydration on muscle and fat composition?

Dehydration has significant consequences on muscle and fat composition, particularly reflected in the loss of lean muscle mass and potentially an increase in fat mass. When the body experiences dehydration, it prioritizes maintaining essential functions, which can lead to a catabolic state where muscle tissue is broken down to release amino acids for energy and other vital processes. This loss of muscle can contribute to overall body composition shifting toward a higher proportion of fat relative to lean tissue.

The correct option highlights a negative outcome of dehydration, which shows that muscle weighs less when dehydrated due to the loss of water content, creating an imbalance that can result in a lower muscle-to-fat ratio. Dehydration can also influence metabolism, slowing down processes that are crucial for maintaining healthy muscle tissue and, consequently, potentially leading to increased fat storage or retention.

In contrast, the other options do not reflect the physiological implications of dehydration accurately. Suggesting that there is an increase in muscle weight or no effect altogether underestimates the negative impact dehydration can have on muscle health. Furthermore, claiming that dehydration leads to greater energy levels contradicts the reality that dehydration typically results in decreased performance and energy, given the impairment of bodily functions.