Weight loss induced by incretin-based obesity management medications results in a significant reduction in .
The impact of fat-free mass loss on and function is currently uncertain.
Adequate protein intake and resistance training are important for reducing fat-free mass loss during weight loss.
Digital health and telemedicine exercise programs may help maintain muscle health while losing weight.
The clinical importance of fat-free mass loss during weight reduction is still debated.
Future research should focus on improving diagnostic criteria for and evaluating long-term effects of fat-free mass reduction.
Simplified
PURPOSE OF REVIEW: is a clinical condition characterized by the coexistence of excess adiposity and impaired muscle function, associated with heightened cardiometabolic risk and frailty. The emergence of new incretin-based obesity management medications (OMMs), which allow unprecedented weight loss, has raised concerns regarding weight loss-induced (FFM) reduction, including (SMM). This review examines recent findings on the prevalence, diagnosis, and implications of sarcopenic obesity, explores the effects of weight-loss interventions on body composition and their impact on health, and discusses strategies to preserve muscle mass.
RECENT FINDINGS: Weight loss induced by incretin-based OMMs results in a variable but significant reduction in FFM. The extent to which this loss affects SMM and function remains uncertain. Nutritional strategies, particularly adequate protein intake, and structured exercise interventions, especially resistance training, play a key role in mitigating FFM loss. Digital health interventions and telemedicine-based exercise programs offer promising approaches for maintaining muscle health during weight loss.
SUMMARY: The clinical significance of FFM loss during weight reduction remains debated. Future research should refine sarcopenic obesity diagnostic criteria, assess the long-term impact of FFM/SMM reduction during intentional weight loss, and evaluate interventions that optimize body composition while preserving functional health.
Key numbers
9% of community-dwelling older adults
Prevalence of
Among adults aged at least 65 years.
20–40% of total weight loss
Loss During Weight Loss
Associated with .
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C.C. received speaker's honoraria from Therascience SAM, NewPenta srl, and Novo Nordisk, and speaker's and consultancy fees from Eli Lilly, outside the submitted work. A.A. has received grant support and consultant fees from NovoNordisk, grant support from Fractyl Laboratories, and is a steering committee member of Oxford Medical Products, outside the submitted work. For the remaining authors none were declared.
