Inverse relationship between “a body shape index” (ABSI) and fat-free mass in women and men: insights into mechanisms of sarcopenic obesity
Abstract
Background & aims Sarcopenic obesity may be defined by a high fat to fat-free mass (FM/FFM) ratio. Skeletal muscle may be negatively influenced by the pro-inflammatory milieu associated with visceral fat, while the loading effect induced by a heavier body mass index (BMI) may enhance muscle anabolism. Recently, a new anthropometric measure based on waist circumference (A Body Shape Index, ABSI) was developed. In this study we have assessed the predictive power of ABSI on the FFM index (FFMI), a surrogate marker of lean mass.Methods Standard anthropometric parameters and ABSI as well as body composition data (fat and fat-free mass determined by bioelectrical impedance analysis) were assessed in 111 female and 89 male overweight/obese subjects, with no clinically significant co-morbidities. Groups with higher- or lower-ABSI were identified according to median values of this index.Results In women and men, ABSI did not correlate with BMI, while multiple linear regression indicated that BMI (β-coefficients: 0.62 and 0.77, respectively) and ABSI (β-coefficients: -0.26 and -0.22, respectively) independently predicted FFMI (multiple R: 0.72 and 0.83, respectively, P < 0.001). Men and women with lower-ABSI exhibited significantly greater FFMI than the higher-ABSI groups for comparable values of BMI. In men, ABSI was correlated positively with C-reactive protein (CRP) (R = 0.30; P < 0.05) and negatively with the reciprocal of insulin (R = 0.28; P < 0.05), an index of insulin sensitivity. FM/FFM ratio significantly (P < 0.01) correlated with CRP (R = 0.31) in women only.Conclusions ABSI, a recently introduced marker of abdominal adiposity, may contribute to define the risk of sarcopenia in overweight/obese individuals.
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Two studies used the fat mass to fat-free mass ratio or the visceral adipose tissue area to thigh muscle area ratio to identify sarcopenic obesity.
“Two studies used the FM to FFM or the visceral adipose tissue area to thigh muscle area ratios to identify cases of sarcopenic obesity [41,70].”
From Critical appraisal of definitions and diagnostic criteria for sarcopenic obesity based on a systematic review (2020) · cites this paper as [41]
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- Authors
- Biolo, G., Di Girolamo, F. G., Breglia, A., Chiuc, M., Baglio, V., Vinci, P., Toigo, G., Lucchin, L., Jurdana, M., Pražnikar, Z. J., Petelin, A., Mazzucco, S., & Situlin, R.
- Affiliations
- University of Trieste (IT)
- Provincia autonoma di Bolzano - Alto Adige (IT)
- University of Primorska (SI)
- Corresponding author
- Biolo, Gianni
- Venue
- Clinical Nutrition
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2015-04
- Volume
- 34
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 323-327
- ISSN
- 0261-5614 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W1998645316
- Cited by
- 113
- References
- 21
- Citations by year
- 2026: 8 · 2025: 15 · 2024: 15 · 2023: 8 · 2022: 15 · 2021: 11 · 2020: 10 · 2019: 9 · 2018: 6 · 2017: 3 · 2016: 6 · 2015: 5 · 2014: 2
- FWCI
- 3.55
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Clinical Nutrition (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- ArTS Archivio della ricerca di Trieste (University of Trieste https://www.units.it/) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- Italy-Slovenia INTERREG (grant no. 042-2/2009)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Body Composition Measurement Techniques
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Nutrition and Health in Aging
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism › Diabetes, Cardiovascular Risks, and Lipoproteins
- Keywords
- body shape index, fat-free mass index, sarcopenic obesity, sarcopenia, abdominal fat, waist circumference, body mass index, visceral fat, C-reactive protein, insulin sensitivity, fat-free mass, overweight and obesity, sex differences
- MeSH terms
- Adipose Tissue, Adult, Age Factors, Anthropometry, Body Composition, C-Reactive Protein, Female, Humans, Insulin Resistance, Male, Middle Aged, Obesity, Predictive Value of Tests, Regression Analysis, Risk Factors, Sex Factors, Body Mass Index, Electric Impedance, Overweight, Waist Circumference, Sarcopenia, Obesity, Abdominal
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