Mixed
Obesity is associated with reduced muscle quality (strength normalized to muscle mass) in some studies, but this finding is inconsistent and likely confounded by methodological differences in measuring muscle size and neural activation.
Don't assume your muscles are 'bad' just because you're obese. Research shows that when you measure muscle accurately and account for how your nervous system works, obese muscles can be just as effective as non-obese muscles. The 'weakness' is often due to how much weight you carry and how your nervous system activates muscles, not the muscle tissue itself.
Discrepancies in the literature remain for maximal strength normalised to muscle mass (muscle quality) and can potentially be explained through accounting for the measurement protocol contributing to muscle strength capacity that need to be explored in more depth such as antagonist muscle co-activation, muscle architecture, a criterion valid measurement of muscle size and an accurate measurement of physical activity levels.
Why this rating
The paper is a review highlighting inconsistencies and methodological flaws in existing studies.
Source
The impact of obesity on skeletal muscle strength and structure through adolescence to old age
David Tomlinson et al. · Biogerontology · 2015
DOI 10.1007/s10522-015-9626-4
More from this paper
- Obesity acts as a chronic overload stimulus on antigravity muscles (e.g., quadriceps, calf), resulting in higher absolute maximum muscle strength compared to non-obese individuals, regardless of age.Good
- When muscle strength is normalized to body mass, obese individuals exhibit relative weakness compared to non-obese individuals, which contributes to functional limitations and disability risk.Good
Related findings · Mixed
- Bariatric surgery (VSG and RYGB) is the most effective and sustainable treatment for obesity, producing marked and sustained weight loss that non-surgical interventions cannot match.Strong
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- For patients with Class III obesity (BMI >39.9 kg/m2), metabolic bariatric surgery (MBS) is significantly more effective than any currently approved medication, with BilioPancreatic Diversion (BPD) showing the highest estimated weight loss.Strong
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