Final answer:
In the first 2 weeks of inactivity, approximately 5-10% of muscle will be lost due to the decrease in metabolic rate and changes in body composition.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the first 2 weeks of inactivity, it is estimated that approximately 5-10% of muscle will be lost.
This estimation is based on the fact that the human body's metabolic rate decreases with age. After the age of 30, the metabolic rate decreases by nearly 2 percent per decade. Changes in body composition, including reduced lean muscle mass, are mostly responsible for this decrease.
The most dramatic loss of muscle mass occurs between 50 and 70 years of age, where the loss of muscle mass is equivalent to reduced strength and can inhibit physical activity, leading to further muscle loss and a decline in metabolism.