Obesity as a premature aging phenotype - implications for sarcopenic obesity

Area of Science:

• Gerontology and metabolic disease research.
• Investigating the intersection of aging and obesity.
• Pathophysiology of age-related and obesity-related conditions.

Background:

• Obesity and aging are increasing in prevalence globally.
• Both conditions share common underlying risk factors and pathologies.
• This review focuses on the similarities between aged and obese phenotypes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To highlight pathologies common to obesity and aging.
• To review risk factors shared by both conditions.
• To illustrate the consequences of combined aging and obesity phenotypes.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of human and animal models.
• Organized analysis based on specific physiological indices.
• Synthesis of data comparing aged and obese phenotypes.

Main Results:

• Obesity and aging exhibit similar skeletal muscle dysfunction, increased adiposity, and autonomic dysfunction.
• Shared characteristics include reduced nitric oxide bioavailability, increased oxidative stress, inflammation, and mitochondrial dysfunction.
• Both phenotypes show dysregulation of glucose homeostasis.

Conclusions:

• Obesity and aging converge into a syndrome termed sarcopenic obesity.
• Interventions targeting modifiable risk factors in obesity may enhance health span.
• Further research is needed to define the additive or synergistic effects of premature aging in sarcopenic obesity.