Prevalence and Determinants of Sarcopenic Obesity in Reproductive and Postmenopausal Women: A Cross-Sectional Study
Sara Mahmood, Safiyah, Monazzah Fatima, Mohd Salman, Bushra Siddiqui
A
bstract
Context:
Sarcopenic obesity (SO) is characterized by coexistence of reduced skeletal muscle mass and excess adiposity. Aging and menopausal transition are known to influence body composition through hormonal and metabolic changes, yet data on SO among women, particularly in developing countries, remain limited.
Aims:
This study aimed to assess the prevalence of SO and evaluate its association with demographic factors, metabolic parameters, and body composition indices among reproductive and postmenopausal women.
Settings and Design:
This is a cross-sectional observational study performed at a tertiary care hospital in North India.
Materials and Methods:
The study was conducted among 86 women aged ≥15 years with body mass index ≥25 kg/m
2
. Participants were categorized into reproductive (
Results:
The overall prevalence of SO was 26.7%, with a significantly higher prevalence among postmenopausal women (47.6%) compared with reproductive women (6.8%;
Conclusion:
SO is highly prevalent among postmenopausal women, with aging emerging as the principal determinant. Early identification and interventions targeting muscle preservation may help mitigate the increasing burden of SO in women.