Which of the following conditions increases the risk of infection due to muscle catabolism?

Muscle catabolism refers to the breakdown of muscle tissue, which can lead to a loss of strength and mobility. When muscle tissue is broken down, it can compromise the body's ability to effectively fight off infections for several reasons. First, muscles play a critical role in immune function, as they provide proteins and other substances necessary for the immune response. Catabolism may also lead to an imbalanced nutrient status, causing a deficiency in essential amino acids and other nutrients that support immune health.

Additionally, the loss of strength and mobility may lead to increased immobility, which can contribute to the development of pressure ulcers or wounds that serve as entry points for pathogens, thereby heightening the risk of infection. Therefore, the correlation between muscle catabolism and an increased risk of infection is primarily due to the resultant loss of muscle mass impacting overall health, mobility, and immune function.

In contrast, the other options do not directly correlate with an increased risk of infection via muscle catabolism. Weight gain may involve an increase in fat rather than muscle, continuous exercise typically promotes muscle health and supports the immune system, and increased antioxidant production generally has protective effects against infections by reducing oxidative stress.