The influence of different exercises on body composition and physical function among older adults with sarcopenic obesity
Year: 2025
Type: conference-abstract
Abstract: : Background: In 2023, the population aged over 65 in China reached 21.1%. The health issues of the elderly have also drawn attention as the aging process at an accelerated pace. Fat accumulation and lower muscle quality caused by age and unhealthy lifestyle will lead to sarcopenic obesity, which is related to falls, fractures, metabolic diseases, and increases the mortality rate among the elderly. Exercise is a non-invasive, economical, and non-pharmaceutical way to improve body composition and physical function. This study aims to compare the influence of different exercises on body composition and physical function among older adults with sarcopenic obesity. Methods: Selecting Embase, PubMed,Cochrane Library, and Web of Science published up to August 19, 2025, utilizing a comprehensive list of keywords related to sarcopenic obesity and exercise outcomes(‘sarcopenic obesity’, ‘sarcopenic adiposity’, ‘obesity with muscle depletion’, ‘sport’, ‘exercise’, ‘resistant training’, ‘resistant exercise’, ‘aerobic exercise’, ‘mind-body exercise’, ‘Tai Chi’, ‘Baduanjin, ‘Yijinjing’, ‘combination training’, ‘exercise intervention’, ‘exercise prescription’). Inclusion criteria: (1) Subjects were aged over 60; (2) Subjects met the sarcopenic obesity diagnostic criteria; (3) Intervention: resistant exercise, aerobic training, mind-body exercise, and combination exercise. Exclusion criteria: (1) Re-publishing literature;(2) Crossover study is excluded;(3) Participants with serious diseases or irreversible muscular diseases that affect the experimental results. Results: Sixty-two studies were included. The combined impact of fat accumulation and lower muscle quality caused by sarcopenic obesity decreases the quality of life of the elderly and increases the risk of falls and death. Aerobic exercise is effective at reducing fat-free mass, BMI, and body fat rate. Resistant exercise and combination exercise are focused on improving strength, endurance. No research has explored the influence of traditional Chinese exercises, such as Taijiquan, Baduanjin, Yijinjing, on people with sarcopenic obesity. Some studies have shown that traditional Chinese exercise can enhance strength, body composition, and physical function in people with sarcopenia and those who are overweight or obese. Conclusion: Different exercises had different effects on elderly people with sarcopenic obesity. Aerobic exercise decreases body mass by increasing energy metabolism, reducing free-fat body mass, BMI, and body fat rate, and the effect on BMI and body mass is better than resistance exercise. Resistant exercise increases muscle tissue generation by promoting muscle protein synthesis and activating satellite cells, then enhancing strength, endurance, and physical function. The combination exercise integrates the advantages of the above two exercises, increasing physical function by enhancing body composition and muscle function. Inflammation and fat accumulation caused by obesity will interfere with the exercise effect. It is recommended that these people should choose long-period and high-intensity exercise to improve body composition and physical function. Currently, no study explores the effect of mind-body exercise on people with sarcopenic obesity. Many studies have confirmed the effectiveness of traditional Chinese exercise on strength, body composition, and physical function among people with sarcopenia or obesity, thereby future studies can focus on this field.
Language: English
Subfield: Physiology (medical)
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W7215480218