Table 2.
Summarises research conducted into the effect of obesity on muscle strength through young to old adulthood (18–80 years old)
| Studies | Gender | Samples (years) | Muscle groups | Measures | Findings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hulens et al. (2001) | F | 173 Obese (39.9) 80 Lean (39.7) Range 20–65 |
– KE – KF – TE – TF – Forearm |
– IK KE MVC 60°/s – IK KF MVC 60°/s – TE 60°/s – TF 60°/s – Handgrip MVC – Bioelectrical impedance |
– IK KE MVC 60°/s ↑ obese – IK KF MVC 60°/s p = ns – TE 60°/s ↑ obese – TF 60°/s ↑ obese – Handgrip MVC p = ns |
| Hulens et al. (2002) | F | 241 Obese (39.2) Range 18–65 Two groups Y = 18–40 O = 41–65 |
– KE – KF – TE – TF |
– IK KE MVC 60°/s, 240°/s – IK KF MVC 60°/s, 240°/s – TE 60°/s, 120°/s – TF 60°/s, 120°/s – Bioelectrical impedance – Baeke physical activity questionnaire |
– Y obese ↑ IK KE MVC 60°/s, 240°/s – Y obese ↑ IK KF MVC 60°/s, 240°/s – Y obese ↑ TE 60°/s, 120°/s – Y obese ↑ TF 60°/s, 120°/s |
| Lafortuna et al. (2005) | M and F | 28 M Obese (29.2) 8 M NW (30.8) 67 F obese (29.4) 10 F NW (30.0) |
– Upper limb – Lower limbs |
– CP IT MVC – LP IS MVC |
– M ↑ IT CP MVC – M ↑ IT LP MVC – Obese versus NW IT CP MVC p = ns (both M and F) – M obese ↑ IT LP MVC – F obese ↑ IT LP MVC – M obese versus NW IT LP/FFM p = ns – F obese versus NW IT LP/FFM p = ns |
| Maffiuletti et al. (2007) | M | 10 Obese (25.3) 10 Lean (27.0) |
– KE | – IM KE MVC 40°, 60°, 80° – IK KE MVC 60°/s, 120°/s, 180°/s – Bioelectrical impedance |
– Obese ↑ IM MVC 40°, 60°, 80° – Obese ↑ IK MVC 60°/s, 120°/s, 180°/s – Obese ↑ IM MVC/BM 40°, 60°, 80° – Obese ↑ IK MVC/BM 60°/s, 120°/s, 180°/s – IM MVC/FFM 40°, 60°, 80° p = ns – IK MVC/FFM 60°/s, 120°/s, 180°/s |
| Hilton et al. (2008) | M and F | 6 Obese (58.0: 4 men, 2 women) 6 Overweight (58.0: 4 men, 2 women) |
– PF – DF |
– PF and DF IM MVC 0° (neutral) – PF and DF IK MVC 60°/s, 120°/s – MV (PF DF muscle group) using MRI – IMAT |
– ↓ Obese PF and DF IM MVC 0° – ↓ Obese PF and DF IK MVC 60°/s, 120°/s – Muscle volume p = ns – Obese ↑ IMAT |
| Lafortuna et al. (2013) | M and F | 21 M (50.5, range 31–71) 18 F (55.0, range 32–76) |
– Lower limb | – Lower limb MV using CT | – M MV versus adiposity r2 = 0.683; p < 0.001 – F MV versus adiposity r2 = 0.214; p = 0.05 |
| Tomlinson et al. (2014a) | F | 54 Y (26.7) 48 O (65.1) 18 Y Obese (30.9) 11 O Obese (62.5) 13 Y Normal (23.2) 15 O Normal (63.5) |
– PF – DF |
– PF and DF IM MVC 0° – Co-contraction (using sEMG) – MUA – DEXA |
– ↑ Y obese PF and DF IM MVC 0° – O PF and DF IM MVC 0° p = ns – Y co-contraction p = ns – O co-contraction p = ns – Y MUA categorised by BMI p = ns – ↓ Y MUA categorised by body fat % p = ns – O MUA categorised by BMI p = ns – O MUA categorised by body fat % p = ns |
| Tomlinson et al. (2014b) | F | 49 Y (25.5) 45 O (64.8) 16 Y Obese 11 O Obese 12 Y Normal 14 O Normal |
– PF | – GM IM PF MVC/MV – GM specific force |
– ↓ Y obese GM IM PF MVC/MV – Y GM specific force p = ns – O GM GM IM PF MVC/MV p = ns – O GM specific force p = ns |
| Tomlinson et al. (2014c) | F | 52 Y (25.0) 48 O (65.1) 17 Y Obese (30.9) 11 O Obese (62.5) 13 Y Normal (23.2) 15 O Normal (63.5) |
– PF | – GM MV – GM PCSA – GM Lf – GM pennation angle |
– ↑ Y obese GM MV – ↑ Y obese GM PCSA – Y GM Lf p = ns – ↑ Y obese GM pennation angle – O GM MV p = ns – O GM PCSA p = ns – O GM Lf p = ns – ↑ O obese GM pennation angle |
| Zoico et al. (2004) | F | 167 F (range 67–78) – NW – Overweight – Obese |
– KE | – KE IM MVC | – KE IM MVC p = ns |
| Rolland et al. (2004) | F | 215 Obese (80.0) 630 NW (80.2) 598 Lean (80.7) |
– EE – KE |
– EE IM MVC – KE IM MVC – Physical activity screen |
– Obese ↑ EE IM MVC (both NW and lean) – EE IM MVC p = ns (corrected for PA) – Obese ↑ KE IM MVC 90° versus lean – Sedentary KE IM MVC p = ns – Active obese ↑ KE IM MVC 90° |
M males, F females, NW normal weight, KE knee extensor, KF knee flexion, IM isometric, IK isokinetic, IT isotonic, CSA cross sectional area, MUA motor unit activation, BM body mass, LM lean mass, MM muscle mass, FFM fat free mass, TE trunk extension, TF trunk flexion, Y young, O old, CP chest press, LP leg press, IMAT intra muscular adipose tissue, MRI magnetic resonance imagery, CT computed tomography, MV muscle volume, sEMG surface electromyography, GM gastrocnemius medialis, PCSA physiological cross sectional area, Lf fascicle length, PA physical activity