Obesity
Conditions
Brief summary
Sarcopenia, a condition where individuals lose muscle mass and strength, is associated with poorer health and function. While aging is a well-known cause of sarcopenia, obesity is increasingly recognised as a significant factor. When sarcopenia and obesity occur together, it can result in more severe health problems. This is especially concerning because weight loss, the treatment for obesity, can further reduce muscle mass and potentially worsen the situation. Despite this, it is unknown how common sarcopenia is among people with obesity, as only a few studies have looked into this using the most accurate diagnostic criteria, showing a prevalence of 4-13%. In this study, the investigators will examine the prevalence of sarcopenia in 300 adults with obesity at a specialized Obesity Center. The investigators expect to find a higher prevalence among Asian participants due to differences in body composition compared to other ethnic groups. The investigators will also explore various factors that might be linked to sarcopenia in these individuals, such as age, gender, race, body mass index, smoking and alcohol use, medical conditions, medications, physical activity, aerobic capacity, and dietary protein intake. Some of these factors could help in identifying those at risk of sarcopenia and could be targeted for future treatments. Currently, screening for sarcopenia is not a standard part of routine obesity care as it requires specialized equipment and trained staff. By determining how common sarcopenia is in people with obesity, this study will help healthcare providers better understand the problem and allocate resources effectively. Identifying factors associated with sarcopenia will also help streamline diagnosis and monitoring for those at risk.
Interventions
None listed
Sponsors
Singapore General Hospital
Study design
Observational model
COHORT
Time perspective
CROSS_SECTIONAL
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
21 Years to 100 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
* body mass index ≥ 27.5kg/m2 * able to provide informed consent.
Exclusion criteria
* unable to undergo the physical function tests (handgrip strength testing and chair-stand tests) * pregnant women * history of bariatric procedures or surgeries * on medications for treatment of obesity (glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists, phentermine, naltrexone-bupropion, orlistat)
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Sarcopenia | Outcome measures will be recorded at baseline only. | Skeletal muscle mass Skeletal muscle mass measurement will be obtained via bioimpedance analysis using the TANITA MC 780 MA Multi-frequency Segmental Body Composition Analyser. Low skeletal muscle mass will be defined by percentage of skeletal muscle mass divided by body weight of ≤ 37% in males and ≤ 27.6% in females. |
| Handgrip strength | Outcome measures will be recorded at baseline only. | Handgrip strength will be measured using the Jamar handgrip dynamometer. Two trials will be performed for each hand, and the maximum strength will be used for diagnosis. |
| 5-time chair stand test | Outcome measures will be recorded at baseline only. | Time taken (seconds) to perform 5 sit-to-stand repetitions |
| 30-second sit-to-stand test | Outcome measures will be recorded at baseline only. | Number of sit-to-stand repetitions performed in 30 seconds |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Aerobic capacity | At baseline | The study will use a validated non-exercise prediction model comprising a physical activity questionnaire to estimate peak oxygen uptake, VO2 milliliter/kg/minute (ml/kg/min). This simple physical activity questionnaire consists of age, gender, height, weight, estimated maximum heart rate, frequency of exercise, length of time for each workout, intensity of each workout, waistline diameter, and resting heart rate. It will be self-administered or administered with the assistance of the clinical research coordinator if required. |
| Physical activity questionnaire | At baseline | Number of minutes per week spent on moderate to vigorous physical activity will be recorded |
| Dietary questionnaire | At baseline | 72 hour dietary recall questionnaire will be administered and dietary macronutrient composition will be calculated |
Countries
Singapore
Outcome results
None listed