ECO 2025: Body Fat Distribution Pattern in Proneness to Sarcopenic Obesity in Young Women of South Asian Descent
Introduction:
Sarcopenic obesity is defined by the coexistence of excess body fat and either low muscle mass or low muscle strength. It may pose distinct metabolic risks depending on the component affected. This study aimed to explore how low muscle mass vs low muscle strength correlates with fat distribution and cardiometabolic risk in young South Asian women.
Objective:
To investigate the relationship between low muscle strength or low muscle mass and adverse fat distribution patterns, as well as metabolic risk markers in healthy young South Asian women with varying BMI levels.
Methods:
- Participants: 203 young South Asian (Indian descent) women in Mauritius; non-smokers, non-drinkers, sedentary, across a wide range of BMI (14-42 kg/m2).
- Measurements:
- Body composition and fat distribution via dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry.
- Muscle mass: Appendicular lean mass (ALM), ALM relative to weight (ALM/W), or ALM relative to height2 (ALMI).
- Muscle strength: Dominant handgrip strength (HGS).
- Blood tests: Glucose, insulin, HbA1c, lipids, C-reactive protein (CRP).
- Obesity defined as body fat % > 40%.
Results:
- Low Muscle Strength (HGS < 18kg/16kg):
- Linked with higher visceral-to-peripheral fat ratio (p < 0.01).
- Showed a trend toward higher triglycerides and low density lipoprotein (LDL) levels, especially after adjusting for ALM.
- Low Muscle Mass (ALM, ALM/W, ALMI):
- Not associated with adverse fat distribution or elevated cardiometabolic markers.
- Associations remained non-significant even after controlling for muscle strength.
Conclusion:
In young South Asian women with obesity, low muscle strength, but not low muscle mass, was linked to an unfavourable fat distribution (more visceral fat) and emerging metabolic risks. This suggests that diminished muscle strength may be an early marker for sarcopenic obesity and related cardiometabolic complications. Visceral-to-peripheral fat imbalance may serve as a key indicator in early detection.
ECO, 11-14 May 2025, Malaga, Spain
