Study Finds Sarcopenic Obesity Raises Type 2 Diabetes Risk More Than 3.5-Fold

Sydney, Australia — New research led by Curtin University has found that people with both excess body fat and reduced muscle mass known as sarcopenic obesity face a significantly higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes, highlighting the important role of muscle health alongside body weight.

The study, published in the journal Diabetes Care, analyzed health data from nearly 480,000 adults over a 14-year period. None of the participants had diabetes at the beginning of the study.

Researchers found that individuals with sarcopenic obesity were more than 3.5 times more likely to develop type 2 diabetes than people with normal body composition. Their risk was also 19% higher than those with obesity alone and 91% higher than those with low muscle mass alone.

Over a 10-year follow-up period, nearly 15% of participants with sarcopenic obesity developed type 2 diabetes, compared with approximately 11% of those with obesity alone and only about 3% of individuals with neither obesity nor low muscle mass.

According to the study's lead author, while excess body weight has long been recognized as a major risk factor for type 2 diabetes, the findings demonstrate that muscle health is an equally important determinant of metabolic health.

The researchers noted that the association between sarcopenic obesity and diabetes risk was particularly pronounced among women and adults younger than 60 years.

The findings challenge the traditional view that body weight alone determines diabetes risk and suggest that preserving muscle mass should be considered an essential component of diabetes prevention strategies.

The research team emphasized that regular physical activity and strength-building exercise can help maintain healthy muscle mass, improve blood glucose regulation, and reduce insulin resistance key factors in preventing type 2 diabetes.

The study underscores the growing importance of incorporating muscle health assessment into public health strategies aimed at reducing the global burden of diabetes.

Source : Xinhua Thai News