Implication of diet and exercise on the management of age‐related sarcopenic obesity in Asians

• Published in: Geriatrics & gerontology international Vol. 22; no. 9; pp. 695 - 704
• Main Authors: Kim, Yoon Jung, Moon, Shinje, Yu, Jae Myung, Chung, Hye Soo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kyoto, Japan John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd 01-09-2022; Blackwell Publishing Ltd
• Subjects: Diet; Exercise; Musculoskeletal system; Obesity; Sarcopenia; skeletal muscle mass
• ISSN: 1444-1586; 1447-0594
• DOI: 10.1111/ggi.14442

The incidence of sarcopenic obesity among adults aged ≥65 years is rising worldwide. Sarcopenic obesity is a high‐risk geriatric syndrome defined as a gain in the amount of adipose tissue along with the age‐related loss of muscle mass and strength or physical performance. Sarcopenic obesity is associated with increased risks of falls, physical limitations, cardiovascular diseases, metabolic diseases, and/or mortality. Thus, the identification of preventive and treatment strategies against sarcopenic obesity is important for healthy aging. Diet and exercise are the reasons for the development of sarcopenic obesity and are key targets in its prevention and treatment. Regarding weight reduction alone, it is most effective to maintain a negative energy balance with dietary calorie restriction and aerobic exercise. However, it is important to preserve skeletal muscle mass while reducing fat mass. Resistance exercise and appropriate protein supply are the main ways of preserving skeletal muscle mass, as well as muscle function. Therefore, in order to improve sarcopenic obesity, a complex treatment strategy is needed to limit energy ingestion with proper nutrition and to increase multimodal exercises. In this review, we focus on recently updated interventions for diet and exercise and potential future management strategies for Asian individuals with aging‐related sarcopenic obesity. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2022; 22: 695–704.
The identification of sarcopenic obesity as a universal diagnostic criterion and the application of treatment strategies for sarcopenic obesity are necessary in the frail elderly population. Energy restriction accompanied by appropriate dietary proteins, including essential amino acids, can promote muscle health. The combination of dietary interventions and regular physical activity (based on aerobic and resistance exercise) may be the most effective strategy for improving sarcopenic obesity.