Nutritional Management and Physical Activity in the Treatment of Sarcopenic Obesity: A Review of the Literature

Abstract

Background: The prevalence of sarcopenic obesity among adults aged ≥65 years is increasing worldwide. It is a condition that describes the concomitant presence of sarcopenia and obesity, but it appears to be associated with greater increases in the risks for disability, morbidity, and mortality than the two conditions combined. The current review aims to summarize the available literature data on the effectiveness of lifestyle modification for the management of this high-risk geriatric syndrome.

Methods: We conducted a comprehensive search across multiple databases, including PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library, for publications published from January 1950 to June 2024.

Results: The detection of early preventive and therapeutic approaches to combat sarcopenic obesity is essential for healthy aging. There is ample evidence that suggests that poor dietary habits and physical inactivity are the main reasons for the development of sarcopenic obesity and should thus be the main targets for intervention. In the absence of effective pharmacological interventions, the best effect on sarcopenic obesity is achieved by combination with proper dietary intervention and regular physical activity according to the individual's health condition.

Conclusions: Further research is needed to discover the most effective strategy for the prevention and treatment of sarcopenic obesity, as well as potential pharmacological options to improve muscle mass and function in older populations with physical restrictions.

Keywords: elderly; intervention; nutritional management; obesity; resistance training; sarcopenia; sarcopenic obesity.

Figure 1

Identification, screening and selection of papers to include.

Figure 2

Main aspects of pathophysiology and management of sarcopenic obesity. Parts of the figure were drawn by using pictures from Servier Medical Art. Servier Medical Art by Servier is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Accessed on 1 August 2024).