title: Variation in the prevalence of sarcopenia and sarcopenic obesity in older adults associated with different research definitions: dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999-2004.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the prevalence range for sarcopenic obesity and its relationship with sex, age, and ethnicity.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional analysis of a population-based sample.
  
  
  METHODS
  Noninstitutionalized persons in the United States participating in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys 1999-2004.
  
  
  METHODS
  Subsample of 4,984 subjects aged 60 and older with dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry body composition data.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eight definitions of sarcopenic obesity identified from six studies found using a systematic literature review (Baumgartner, Bouchard, Davison, Zoico, Levine, Kim-1,2,3) were applied to the sample. Results were stratified according to sex, age, and ethnicity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Prevalence of sarcopenic obesity ranged from 4.4% to 84.0% in men and from 3.6% to 94.0% in women. Prevalence was higher in men using definitions from Baumgartner (17.9% vs 13.3%, P < .001), Levine (14.2% vs 6.6%, P < .001), and Kim-1 (30.0% vs 9.3%, P < .001); lower for men using the Davison (4.4% vs 11.1%, P < .001) and Kim-2 (83.7% vs 94.0%) definitions; and the same for men and women using the Bouchard (45.3% vs 44.3%, P = .32) and Kim-3 (75.6% vs 77.0%, P = .51) definitions. For all but one definition, sarcopenic obesity increased with each decade and was lower in non-Hispanic blacks than whites.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Prevalence of sarcopenic obesity in older adults varies up to 26-fold depending on current research definitions. Such a high degree of variability suggests the need to establish consensus criteria that can be reliably applied across clinical and research settings.
authors: Section of General Internal Medicine, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, New Hampshire.|Center for Health and Aging, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire.|Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire.|Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire.
authors: John A
authors: JA
authors: Batsis
authors: Center for Health and Aging, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire.|Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire.|Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire.
authors: Laura K
authors: LK
authors: Barre
authors: Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire.
authors: Todd A
authors: TA
authors: Mackenzie
authors: Center for Health and Aging, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire.|Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire.
authors: Sarah I
authors: SI
authors: Pratt
authors: Division of Cardiovascular Diseases, Department of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota.
authors: Francisco
authors: F
authors: Lopez-Jimenez
authors: Center for Health and Aging, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire.|Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire.|Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire.
authors: Stephen J
authors: SJ
authors: Bartels
mesh_terms: D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011159:Population Surveillance / Q000379:methods*; D015995:Prevalence; D012107:Research Design; D055948:Sarcopenia / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
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