Research
Energy balance
Weight loss therapies, including bariatric surgery and hypocaloric diets, inevitably lead to skeletal muscle catabolism, particularly during rapid weight loss phases.
When you start a diet or surgery, expect some muscle loss. To protect your muscle, ensure you eat enough protein and engage in resistance training, as rapid weight loss makes muscle loss more likely.
GoodSupportsHIGH confidence
Bariatric procedures are becoming increasingly common and almost invariably lead to skeletal muscle catabolism, at least in the initial rapid weight loss phase, characterized by profoundly negative energy balance [50]; low- or very-low-calorie diets are associated with similar qualitative changes although to less pronounced degrees [23, 51].
Why this rating
Supported by multiple citations regarding bariatric and dietary interventions.
Source
Sarcopenic Obesity: Time to Meet the Challenge
Rocco Barazzoni et al. · Obesity Facts · 2018
DOI 10.1159/000490361
narrative_reviewCited 228×
Read the paper DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10
More from this paper
- Obese individuals with low skeletal muscle mass or function (sarcopenic obesity) face significantly higher risks of frailty, disability, and mortality compared to non-obese counterparts with similar muscle alterations.Good
- Obese individuals should consume at least 1 g/kg ideal body weight of protein per day to support muscle mass, with higher amounts recommended for high-risk groups.Good
Related findings · Energy balance
- Achieving a total body weight loss of 10-15% (or >10-15 kg) through Total Diet Replacement (TDR) induces remission of Type 2 Diabetes in individuals with short-duration disease.Strong
- Bariatric surgery is superior to medical management alone for inducing significant long-term weight loss, remission of type 2 diabetes, and reduction in mortality for patients with BMI ≥ 40 or ≥ 35 with comorbidities.Strong
- Achieving type 2 diabetes remission requires significant weight loss (≥15 kg) via major caloric restriction, independent of macronutrient composition.Strong
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