Measuring Muscle Mass and Strength in Obesity: a Review of Various Methods

Lower muscle mass in populations with obesity is associated obesity-related diseases like hypertension and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Bariatric surgery leads to sustained weight loss. During the weight reduction, loss of muscle should be minimized. Thus reliable quantification of muscle mass is much needed and therefore the also the need for validated methods. Imaging methods, magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography scan, have been the gold standard for many years. However, these methods are costly and have limitations such as the maximum weight. Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry is currently the most used alternative. Other, less expensive methods are very limited in their validation in populations with morbid obesity. This narrative review summarizes the current knowledge regarding measuring muscle mass and strength in obesity.