Vnitr Lek 2020, 66(1):39-43 | DOI: 10.36290/vnl.2020.007

Sarcopenic obesity - current view

Matej Pekař^1,2, Anna Pekařová^1,3, Tereza Chovancová^2,4, Pavol Holéczy^2,4

¹ Fyziologický ústav LF MU Brno

² Chirurgické oddělení Vítkovické nemocnice Ostrava

³ Klinika plicních nemocí a tuberkulózy LF OU a FN Ostrava

⁴ Katedra chirurgických oborů LF OU Ostrava

Obesity is a serious disease with interdisciplinary medical overlap and important socio-economic implications for patients and society. Therefore, a great deal of attention is paid to the clarification of the exact pathophysiological mechanisms involved in the disease, the possibility of their influence and, consequently, the treatment of the already existing conditions and related complications. Sarcopenic obesity is a type of obesity that is caused by fat infiltration of muscle tissue, that replaces its volume and causes its strength loss. A key pathophysiological mechanism in the aetiology of this problem is the inflammatory activity of the excessive fat tissue. To assess the amount of muscle mass in the body, densitometry is used. Computer tomography or magnetic resonance is used to assess its morphology. Sarcopenic obesity increases health risks, mainly cardiovascular complications, increases insulin resistance, is a predictive risk factor for the development of cardiovascular disease in patients with diabetes mellitus type 2, increases incidence of postoperative complications, impairs cognitive function, weakens healing of acute and chronic diseases, reduces physical performance. The combination of aerobic and power exercises appears to be the most efficient in the treatment of sarcopenic obesity. Thermogenesis in brown adipose tissue appears to be promising in fighting obesity, however it is unknown whether pharmacologically induced thermogenesis can increase the risk of sarcopenia at the same time. The aim of this work is to provide an up-to-date overview of the problem and to outline the possibilities of further research.

Keywords: brown adipose tissue, obesity, pathophysiology, sarcopenia, sarcopenic obesity.

Published: February 21, 2020  Show citation