Table 2.

Future directions for sarcopenic obesity research. Based on information from the ESPEN/EASO consensus definition [26] and meeting proceedings [27••]

Future directions
• Use the current ESPEN/EASO consensus definition for greater homogeneity across the literature.
• Distinguish more clearly between the primary and secondary forms of the condition to devise treatment strategies tailored to each type.
• Explore the role of hormonal status (e.g., cortisol, testosterone, growth hormone/insulin-like growth factor-1 axis) on its pathogenesis and pathophysiology.
• Explore the cross-talk between bone, muscle, and adipose tissue related to age-related osteopenia-osteoporosis, sarcopenia, and overweight-obesity.
• Develop or validate age, sex, and ethnicity-based cut points for research and clinical practice consideration.
• Develop or validate screening methods, such as calf circumference.
• Confirm the reliability of using calf circumference, adjusted for body mass index, as an indicator of skeletal muscle mass.
• Compare the utility of different functional tests in various settings.
• Validate the use of different body composition adjustment methods for diagnosis.
• Study the prognostic ability of the proposed ESPEN/EASO consensus definition staging system.
• Increase the number and quality of randomized controlled trials studying the therapeutic effects of exercise, nutritional, pharmacologic, or combined interventions.
• Identify effective strategies for the mitigation of muscle loss during weight loss.