Muscle weakness with obesity is associated with higher mortality
A review of prospective cohorts found mortality associations using either waist size or body mass index to define obesity, with substantial variation between studies.
Based on the published abstract. The full paper may contain additional methods, results and limitations.
The 30-second takeaway
Muscle weakness with abdominal obesity was associated with a higher hazard of death from any cause than having neither condition. An analysis defining obesity by body mass index also found an association. These cohort findings do not prove causation, and results varied substantially across studies.
The abstract omits participant ages, follow-up lengths and adjustment details. These gaps limit interpretation of whom the pooled estimates describe and which other influences were considered.
What researchers found
Hazard ratio for death from any cause
The estimated death hazard was 1.73 times as high with muscle weakness plus abdominal obesity versus no weakness and normal waist size; follow-up lengths were not reported.
Different definitions of obesity
Waist size and body mass index were used as separate ways to define obesity. Each analysis produced its own pooled estimate; these results do not establish which definition better identifies people at risk.
What the estimate means
A hazard ratio compares the rate of dying at a given time among people still alive. The confidence interval describes uncertainty around that relative comparison; it does not give an individual’s probability of death.
The original publication
Dynapenic obesity and all-Cause mortality: A systematic review and Meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies.
Nikkhah A, Sharifi F, Ebrahimi P et al.
Aging Clin Exp Res · 2025
- PubMed ID
- 41055780
- Record checked
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