Researchers from the Federal University of São Carlos (UFSCar) in Brazil, working with University College London (UCL) in the United Kingdom, found that having both excess abdominal fat and reduced muscle mass significantly raises the risk of death. People with this combination were 83% more likely to die than those without either condition.
This pairing points to a more serious underlying issue known as sarcopenic obesity. It occurs when muscle mass declines while body fat increases. The condition can be difficult to identify and is closely tied to reduced independence and poorer quality of life in older adults. It is also associated with frailty, a higher risk of falls, and other health complications.
“In addition to assessing the risk of death associated with abdominal obesity and low muscle mass, we were able to…