Objective: 

The present study was aimed to determine the prevalence of sarcopenia in a population of obese aging patients and to verify the effect of diet rich in proteins could on lean mass loss.

Methods: 

1566 patients (age range: 18-75 years) were studied. Nutritional status was assessed by anthropometric measurements,hand grip (HG) and bioimpedance analysis. Sarcopenia was defined in patients with skeletral muscle index (SMI) below a cut-off score of 7,73 for men and 6,7 for women, obtained in a group of normal weight healthy men (n=67) and women (n=315) aged 18–43 years (BMI range: 20–28 kg/m2). The obese aging patients were treated with hypocaloric diet rich in protein for three months.

Results: 

Out of 387 patients (age>65 years; BMI=33,8±4,2 for men and 34,8±4,5 for women), 13 women and 2 men were sarcopenic in the present study. At the end of dieting in men group BMI was reduced(32,3±3,9 vs 33,82±4,14 kg/m2 baseline),as well as SMI (10,2±1,1 vs 10,41±1,26 kg/m2), fat mass index, FMI,(10,47±3 vs 11,53±2,94 kg/m2), fat free mass index, FFMI, (22±2,3vs22,20±3,31kg/m2).In the women group BMI decreased (33,44±4,65 vs 35±4,5 kg/m2), as well as SMI (8,36±1,06 vs 8,5±0,86 kg/m2), FMI(15,22±3,4 vs 15,8±3,35 kg/m2) and FFMI (18,7±1,86 vs 19,15±2 kg/m2).

Conclusions: 

The prevalence of sarcopenic obesity was higher in women than in men. In our population, a diet rich in protein for three month was able to preserve muscle mass and to decrease BMI. In conclusion, adequate protein intake could prevent lean mass loss associated with weight loss in aging.