Home >  Diabetes and Endocrinology MDTV >  Diabetes & Endocrinology Shorts >  Poor muscle health common...

Poor muscle health common in people living with obesity, finds study

By - Anshika Mishra
Published On 2024-05-13 03:00 GMT   |   Update On 2024-05-13 07:30 GMT
Advertisement

New research being presented at the European Congress on Obesity (ECO) has found that poor muscle health is associated with a higher risk of early death in people living with obesity.

Individuals with obesity often experience poor muscle health due to several factors. Excessive adipose tissue accumulation can lead to chronic low-grade inflammation, which contributes to muscle insulin resistance and impairs muscle function.
Additionally, increased fat mass can result in mechanical loading on muscles, leading to reduced muscle strength and endurance. Hormonal imbalances associated with obesity, such as elevated levels of adipokines and decreased levels of anabolic hormones, further exacerbate muscle dysfunction.
In their study, lead researcher Dr Jennifer Linge and colleagues utilized software to analyze scans from 56,109 participants enrolled in the UK Biobank study. They assessed muscle volume (indicating muscle quantity) and muscle fat (indicating muscle quality) and calculated personalized muscle volume z-scores to compare participants' muscle volume to the average for their sex and body size.
Advertisement
Participants were categorized into four groups based on their muscle composition: normal, high muscle fat only, low muscle volume z-score only, or adverse muscle composition (both high muscle fat and low muscle volume z-score).
Among the 9,840 participants with obesity, 2,001 (20.3%) had adverse muscle composition. Over an average follow-up period of 3.9 years, 174 participants died, with the most common causes of death being ischaemic disease and hypertensive disease.
The results showed that participants with adverse muscle composition were three times more likely to die during follow-up than those with normal muscle composition. Even after adjusting for factors such as hand grip strength, other diseases, lifestyle habits, as well as sex, age, type 2 diabetes, and smoking status, the association between poor muscle health and all-cause mortality remained significant. In this fully adjusted model, adverse muscle composition was linked to a 70% higher risk of early death.
The findings revealed that adverse muscle composition was common in individuals living with obesity and significantly associated with all-cause mortality. This emphasized the critical importance of evaluating both muscle volume and muscle fat when assessing muscle health.
Reference: Dr Jennifer Linge AMRA Medical, a health informatics company in Linköping, Sweden. Et al., Poor muscle health is common in people living with obesity – and increases the risk of an early death, Swedish study of people in UK finds; EUROPEAN ASSOCIATION FOR THE STUDY OF OBESITY; MEETING: European Congress on Obesity (ECO2024)
Full View
Tags:    

Disclaimer: This website is primarily for healthcare professionals. The content here does not replace medical advice and should not be used as medical, diagnostic, endorsement, treatment, or prescription advice. Medical science evolves rapidly, and we strive to keep our information current. If you find any discrepancies, please contact us at corrections@medicaldialogues.in. Read our Correction Policy here. Nothing here should be used as a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. We do not endorse any healthcare advice that contradicts a physician's guidance. Use of this site is subject to our Terms of Use, Privacy Policy, and Advertisement Policy. For more details, read our Full Disclaimer here.

NOTE: Join us in combating medical misinformation. If you encounter a questionable health, medical, or medical education claim, email us at factcheck@medicaldialogues.in for evaluation.

Anshika Mishra

Anshika Mishra is a dedicated scholar pursuing a Masters in Biotechnology, driven by a profound passion for exploring the intersection of science and healthcare. Having embarked on this academic journey with a passion to make meaningful contributions to the medical field, Anshika joined Medical Dialogues in 2023 to further delve into the realms of healthcare journalism.

Comments Policy
Our comments section is governed by our Comments Policy . By posting comments at Medical Dialogues you automatically agree with our Comments Policy , Terms And Conditions and Privacy Policy .

Similar News

Shedding Weight, Losing Muscle: Study Links GLP-1 Drugs to Reduced Muscle Mass

Non-Invasive Saliva Test May Detect Early Signs of Diabetes and Obesity: Study Finds

Low Blood Sugar Before Pregnancy May Raise Risk of Preterm Birth, Low Birth Weight: Study Finds

Even Few Workouts a Week Could Lower Death Risk for People with Diabetes: Study Suggests

Yoga May Reduce the Risk of Developing Diabetes by 40 Percent: Study Shows

Medical Bulletin 23/July/2025

These Chemicals May Raise Type 2 Diabetes Risk by 31 Percent: Study Finds

Heart Healthy Habits May Shield You from Cancer, Dementia, Diabetes and More: Study