• Marwan El Ghoch, Andrea P Rossi, Ludovica Verde, Luigi Barrea, Giovanna Muscogiuri, Silvia Savastano, Annamaria Colao, and Obesity Programs of Nutrition, Education, Research and Assessment (OPERA) group.
• Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, Arab University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon.
• Panminerva Med. 2022 Dec 1; 64 (4): 537547537-547.

IntroductionOur aim was to summarize the available literature on three yet unsolved questions, namely: 1) the dilemma surrounding definition of sarcopenic obesity (SO), especially in young adults; 2) the potential impact of this phenotype on weight-loss programme outcomes; and 3) the strategies for optimum management (prevention/treatment) of SO in clinical practice.Evidence AcquisitionA literature review using the PubMed/Medline database was conducted, and data were summarized based on a narrative approach.Evidence SynthesisFirstly, SO can be screened by the 30-sec sit-to-stand test; ≤25 and ≤21; and confirmed by the ratio of (appendicular lean mass/Body Mass Index) ≤0.789 and 0.512 in males and females, respectively. Secondly, SO is associated with impaired physical fitness, reduced resting energy expenditure and an inactive lifestyle, that seems to negatively impact on weight-management outcomes, namely increasing early dropout and difficulty in maintaining weight loss in the long term. Finally, prevention/treatment of SO in young adults must be realized through tailored lifestyle intervention (diet+exercise) to preserve and improve strength and muscle mass, even where weight loss is necessary.ConclusionsOur findings have clinical implications since they may help in screening, managing and improving the weight-loss outcomes of patients with SO in clinical settings.

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