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Pilot study for the development of a screening questionnaire to detect sarcopenic obesity

International Journal of Obesity volume 46, pages 1328–1331 (2022)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Background/Goal

Caloric restriction—the most prevalent obesity treatment—has a 97% failure rate when spread over 5–7 years. Sarcopenic obesity is thought to be the consequence of chronic dieting and the cause of weight management problems. This pilot study’s goal was to develop a screening questionnaire that detects sarcopenic obesity in young and middle-aged female adults.

Subjects/Method

A total of 23 women (ages 19–59) completed a sarcopenic obesity questionnaire and were assessed for total body weight (TBWt), percent fat mass, and percent fat-free mass (%FFM) using the Bod Pod (air plethsmography), and bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA). Appendicular skeletal mass (ASM) was calculated using BIA. Resting energy expenditure was determined using indirect calorimetry, and the basal metabolic rate (BMR) was calculated using BIA.

Results

The screening questionnaire score was negatively correlated with BMR (r2 = 0.885), %FFM (r2 = 0.86), ASM (r2 = 0.79) relative to TBWt and to ASM/BMI (r2 = 0.58). The screening questionnaire had an acceptable sensitivity (83%) and specificity (87%) in detecting sarcopenia measured using ASM/BMI.

Conclusion

This pilot intimates that subjects who frequently dieted suffered from a disproportionally lower FFM and BMR relative to the TBWt. The questionnaire can help clinicians recognize the presence of sarcopenic obesity in patients.

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Fig. 1: Linear regression between BMR, FFM, and ASM and screening questionnaire score.

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Data availability

Data and original screening questionnaire are available for review upon request.

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Acknowledgements

Special thanks to Elizabeth Herrick, Elizabeth Rummel, and Brenna Oberg, for their valuable technical and analytic work. We acknowledge the assistance of John Kind, Director of the Mankato, Minnesota YMCA, in recruiting research subjects.

Funding

This research was supported by a Faculty Research Grant from Minnesota State University, Mankato. Grant: Burk BN, Bissonnette D (2017). Identifying ecological and personal factors that prevent obese individuals from effectively losing weight. Minnesota State University, Mankato, Faculty Research Grant ($4950).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. WC102, Department of Family Consumer Science, Minnesota State University, Mankato, Mankato, MN, 56001, USA

    D. J. Bissonnette

  2. Department of Recreation, Parks & Leisure Services, Minnesota State University, Mankato, Mankato, MN, USA

    B. N. Burk

  3. Emerita from the Department of Biochemistry, Chemistry, and Geology, Minnesota State University, Mankato, Mankato, MN, USA

    M. Hadley

  4. Department of Biological Sciences, Minnesota State University, Mankato, Mankato, MN, USA

    P. Knoblich

Authors
  1. D. J. Bissonnette
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Contributions

DJB developed the original screening questionnaire, wrote the first draft of the manuscript, and participated in all other drafts. MH, PK, and BNB contributed to the rewriting of four drafts, and PK completed the statistical analysis. BNB participated in data collection.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to D. J. Bissonnette.

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Competing interests

The authors declare no competing interests.

Ethics approval and consent to participate

The Institutional Review Board of Minnesota State University, Mankato, approved this research (IRB# 8207501). All subjects consented to participate in the study by signing a consent form.

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Bissonnette, D.J., Burk, B.N., Hadley, M. et al. Pilot study for the development of a screening questionnaire to detect sarcopenic obesity. Int J Obes 46, 1328–1331 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41366-022-01118-y

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