Exercise Helps Older Adults With Sarcopenic Obesity, but Evidence Quality Is Mixed
Graded Moderate — meta-analysis of 20 randomized trials with 917 older adults, though the trials were small and the authors rated the evidence as only moderate to low certainty.
- Design
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- Participants
- 917
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This review suggests resistance or combined training may benefit older adults dealing with muscle loss and excess fat.
Pooling 20 trials of older adults with sarcopenic obesity (low muscle plus excess fat), exercise reduced body fat, BMI, and LDL cholesterol while boosting muscle mass, grip strength, and walking speed. Resistance training stood out for building muscle and strength. Combined training (resistance plus cardio) improved the broadest range of outcomes. However, the authors caution that evidence quality was only moderate for body composition and low for metabolic benefits.
Disclaimer: Research summaries are provided for informational purposes only and do not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making changes to your health routine.
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