An obese patient may have greatly reduced muscle mass. This can impact the patient's response to illness and survival.
Features of sarcopenic obesity:
(1) obesity with high percent body fat
(2) reduction in lean body weight with sarcopenia
(3) reduction in muscle strength and/or physical performance
The patient may be at risk for:
(1) protein malnutrition and vitamin deficiency.
(2) drug overdosage due to overestimation of a drug's distribution volume
Sarcopenic obesity may impact outcomes for patients with
(1) cancer
(2) rheumatoid arthritis
(3) aging
