Sarcopenic obesity
[3] This condition accelerates muscle mass and function loss as mentioned above, and is a particular concern for the elderly due to its compounding effects on mobility and overall health.
These factors increase ectopic/omental fat deposition, insulin resistance, while decreasing metabolic rate, physical activity, and anabolic hormones.
This inhibits protein synthesis, resulting in decline of muscle mass and promotes other mechanisms e.g. insulin resistance.
People living with obesity experience an array of symptoms, including difficulty breathing, joint and back pain, a limited ability to participate in physical tasks, snoring, frequently experiencing fatigue, and excessive perspiration.
In some patients, a range of comorbidities can coincide with sarcopenic obesity, for example cardoivascular disease, dementia, fractures, diabetes, and even some cancers.
Some of these include, low confidence which can present as doubting ones ability, worry, uncertainty, and being hesitant while assigned or performing tasks.
Obesity is often characterized as extreme adipose tissue growth due to a decrease in energy expenditure as well as an increase in nutrition.
[12] Insulin plays a powerful role in protein synthesis since it increases intracellular uptake of short-chain amino acids and regulates expression of albumin and myosin.
Adipose tissue secretes hormones and proteins, such as pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1) and adipokines (lectin and adiponectin).
Sarcopenic obesity is defined as the presence of increased levels of adipose tissue and a below average muscle mass and function in a patient.
Diagnostic procedure for sarcopenic obesity involves a number of body composition assessments a person has to undergo.
Some research points to anthropometric diagnosis based on south Asian cut offs to be the most efficacious way to diagnose sarcopenic obesity.
[19] Abnormal values for obesity is a BMI greater than 30 kg/m^2 or by fat levels and also modified body composition caused by low skeletal muscle operation and mass.
Elastic resistance training incorporated into exercise also has shown to reduce muscle mass loss while losing weight.
As individuals age, their body composition, amount of physical activity, and diet contribute to their decrease in muscle mass.
[24] Since sarcopenic obesity is mostly prevalent in elderly patients, it is important to consume the appropriate amount of protein to prevent muscle mass loss.
Low muscle mass or obesity are risk factors for reduced physical capacity and quality of life.
As a result of sarcopenic obesity, the risk of cardiovascular disease, cancer, type 2 diabetes, fractures, disability, and quality of life as above is affected.
In the event of early diagnosis, preventative treatment to delay the degradation of muscle and weight/fat management could prove to be beneficial.
[30] Preventatively, a diet high in protein combined with physical activity outdoors can reduce the risk of sarcopenic obesity.
Physical activity and proper nutritional supplementation is one of the important non-pharmacological options to delay and/or treat sarcopenic obesity, but it does come with limitations.
