A new international study has found that in people over the age of 50, the combination of abdominal obesity (excess fat around the waist) and loss of muscle mass is associated with a significantly increased risk of death, reports Medical Xpress.
Researchers from the Federal University of São Carlos (Brazil) and University College London analyzed data from more than 5,400 adults followed over 12 years, comparing health outcomes between those with both conditions and those without.
The results showed that individuals with both abdominal obesity and low muscle mass had an approximately 83% higher risk of death than those with neither condition. Participants with low muscle mass alone, without pronounced abdominal obesity, had a moderately increased mortality risk—about 40% higher—while those with abdominal obesity alone and normal muscle mass did not show a significant increase in risk.
This combination of excess abdominal fat and simultaneous muscle loss is known as sarcopenic obesity. The condition is particularly common in older adults and is associated with poorer quality of life, loss of independence, a high risk of falls, and multiple comorbidities.
Early identification of sarcopenic obesity is important, as it may indicate more serious underlying metabolic disorders.
One challenge in clinical practice is the difficulty of diagnosing sarcopenic obesity: standard methods such as magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography, or bioelectrical impedance analysis are accurate but expensive and not widely available. However, the study authors showed that simple measurements—such as a waist circumference greater than 102 cm in men and 88 cm in women, along with calculation of a muscle mass index using a formula that includes age, sex, weight, and height—can help identify individuals at higher risk.
Experts emphasize that the combination of excess fat and reduced muscle mass amplifies inflammatory processes and metabolic disturbances, exacerbating cumulative damage to the body and increasing the risk of death.
The use of simple screening methods for the early detection of sarcopenic obesity may help initiate timely interventions, such as dietary adjustments and physical activity, thereby improving prognosis and quality of life in older adults.
