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Research progress on the comorbidity mechanism of sarcopenia and obesity in the aging population

TIAN Hao-Dong^1,2, LU Yu-Kun^1,2,3, HUANG Li^1,2, LIU Hao-Wei^1,2, YU Hang-Lin^1,2, WU Jin-Long^1,2, LI Han-Sen⁴, PENG Li^1,2,*

¹College of Physical Education, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China；²Key Laboratory of Physical Fitness Evaluation and Sports Function Monitoring of General Administration of Sport of China, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China；³College of Physical Education, Xinjiang Hetian College, Hetian 848000, China; 4School of Physical Education, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an 625014, China；⁴School of Physical Education, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an 625014, China

Abstract

The increasing prevalence of aging has led to a rising incidence of comorbidity of sarcopenia and obesity, posing significant burdens on socioeconomic and public health. Current research has systematically explored the pathogenesis of each condition; however, the mechanisms underlying their comorbidity remain unclear. This study reviews the current literature on sarcopenia and obesity in the aging population, focusing on their shared biological mechanisms, which include loss of autophagy, abnormal macrophage function, mitochondrial dysfunction, and reduced sex hormone secretion. It also identifies metabolic mechanisms such as insulin resistance, vitamin D metabolism abnormalities, dysregulation of iron metabolism, decreased levels of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, and gut microbiota imbalances. Additionally, this study also explores the important role of genetic factors, such as alleles and microRNAs, in the co-occurrence of sarcopenia and obesity. A better understanding of these mechanisms is vital for developing clinical interventions and preventive strategies.

Key words: the older adults; sarcopenia; obesity; comorbid mechanism

Received: 　　Accepted:

Corresponding author: 彭莉　　E-mail:

DOI: 10.13294/j.aps.2025.0079

Citing This Article：

TIAN Hao-Dong, LU Yu-Kun, HUANG Li, LIU Hao-Wei, YU Hang-Lin, WU Jin-Long, LI Han-Sen, PENG Li. Research progress on the comorbidity mechanism of sarcopenia and obesity in the aging population. Acta Physiol Sin 2025; 77 (5): 905-924 (in Chinese with English abstract).