Sarcopenia and poor muscle quality associated with severe obesity in young adults and middle-aged adults

Sarcopenia is a muscle disease that is associated with a decline in muscle strength and function. When this condition coexists with sarcopenia, it is characterized as sarcopenic obesity (OS), and is associated with worse outcomes of physical functions. The aim of this study was to investigate sarcopenia in obesity and its relationship with body composition in young adults with grade II and grade III obesity.

Analytical, cross-sectional study. Volunteers of both sexes were selected, aged between 20 and 59 years, and who had a BMI ≥35 kg/m² with the presence of comorbidities or BMI> 40 kg/m². Body composition was measured by dual-energy X ray absorptiometry (DEXA). The following parameters of sarcopenia included handgrip strength (HGS), chair stand, appendicular skeletal muscle mass (ASM), ASM adjusted by weight and ASM adjusted by BMI; HGS adjusted by ASM and gait speed.

108 volunteers, of both sexes, with a mean age of 43, ±11.7 years, were evaluated. 2% had dinapenia and 33% low leg muscle strength. The prevalence of sarcopenia varied between 11.1% and 13.9%, corresponding to the confirmatory criteria of low muscle quantity and low muscle quality, respectively, particularly affecting middle-aged women. We found a reduction in HGS by ASM with an increase in BMI and fat mass (kg) in both age groups, being significant among middle-aged adults (40-59 years).

Even with young adults, we observed changes in all parameters with a negative impact on strength, mass and muscle function. Muscle quality can be considered an important risk factor for functional disability and should be considered in the assessment of sarcopenia. The results show the need to standardize criteria for the assessment of sarcopenia in young adults with severe obesity, since the prevalence differed widely.