Detecting sarcopenia in obesity: emerging new approaches

Purpose of review: Sarcopenic obesity is a likely common, but certainly underestimated obesity phenotype, with an important negative clinical impact. Its definition and diagnosis have however remained elusive until recently. Recent findings: Substantial progress has been recently made in sarcopenic obesity diagnostic tools, with the first international consensus proposed by the European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism (ESPEN) and the European Association for the Study of Obesity (EASO). Very encouraging results emerge from initial implementation of the ESPEN-EASO algorithm. In addition, even more recent progress in global consensus on sarcopenia conceptual definition is likely to further enhance consistency in sarcopenic obesity identification. The latter Global Leadership Initiative on Sarcopenia (GLIS) initiative also adopted a new definition of muscle specific strength. Its inclusion in sarcopenia diagnostic constructs opens the possibility of its potential evaluation in sarcopenic obesity, also considering the emerging positive impact of obesity treatment and fat loss on muscle functional parameters. Summary: New consensus tools for sarcopenic obesity diagnosis are likely to improve awareness, understanding, identification and treatment of this under-recognized obesity phenotype.