Sarcopenic obesity: Etiology, and the roles of diet and exercise in its treatment

SARCOPENIC OBESITY (SO), THE COMBINATION OF EXCESS ADIPOSE TISSUE AND AGING-INDUCED MUSCLE WASTING, IS BECOMING A COMMON HEALTH CONCERN IN THE UNITED STATES. UNFORTUNATELY, FORMAL CONFIRMATION OF SO REQUIRES HIGHER-TECHNOLOGY TOOLS - E.G., DUAL X-RAY ABSORPTIOMETRY, ANTHROPOMETRICS AND BIOELECTRICAL IMPEDANCE, WHICH ARE NOT READILY AVAILABLE TO EXERCISE PROFESSIONALS (EPS). HERE, WE PRESENT A FUNCTIONAL DEFINITION OF SO FOR EPS. WE ALSO DISCUSS THE UNDERLYING DISEASE PROCESSES CONTRIBUTING TO SO AND THE MECHANISMS BY WHICH LIFESTYLE INTERVENTIONS SUCH AS DIET AND EXERCISE MAY POSITIVELY INFLUENCE HEALTH OF PERSONS WITH SO.