Abstract: The elderly were divided into muscle attenuation group and normal group,and each of group consists of three age stages including 60~69 years old,70~79 years old and ≥ 80 years old.The aim of the work was to study the relationship between muscle attenuation and meat diet in the elderly,and that was to reveal the relationship among meat diet,exercise status and muscle attenuation in the elderly and provide evidence for the intervention of muscle attenuation in the elderly from the perspective of food intake. The results of analysis indicated that there were extremely significant differences on gender and body mass index(BMI)between muscle attenuation group and normal group(P<0.01). Within muscle attenuation group degree of muscle attenuation increased with age,evidenced by SMI(skeletal muscle mass index)value. The analysis of dietary status and exercise status showed that there were significant differences on meat and related protein intake,livestock and related poultry protein intake,and the amount of exercise in some of the three age groups of muscle attenuation group and normal group(P<0.05).Muscle attenuation rate of the muscle attenuation group was decreased with the classification value increase of meat and protein intake,livestock and poultry protein intake,and the amount of exercise(P<0.05).Muscle attenuation was related to meat and related protein intake(β=-2.633、P<0.05;β=-2.216、P<0.05).Meat intake was a protective factor of muscle attenuation for the elderly(OR<1). Principal component analysis showed that the rank of meat and resistance exercise(2,3)and the rank of meat protein and resistance exercise(2,1)were higher compared to other indicators. SMI was strongly correlated with meat and related protein intake,poultry meat and related protein intake evidenced by the closely distribution of those indicators. Conclusion:Muscle attenuation of the elderly was affected by age,gender,BMI,meat diet,exercise status and other factors. Appropriately increasing meat intake(especially poultry meat)and resistance exercise of the elderly was benefical to relieve muscle attenuation of the elderly.