A study of the relationship between obesity measures and handgrip strength

Abstract

Background: Over the last 30 years, the prevalence of obesity has increased rapidly due to changes in the lifestyle of Mongolians. Muscle deficiency or sarcopenia is common in obese people. Aim: To study the relationship between obesity and muscle size. Materials and methods: A total of 1368 people were involved in the survey. Body height, weight, BMI, waist circumference, total body fat, and handgrip strength were measured. Results: 40.3% (n=551) of the respondents were male, with an average age of 38.4±16.4. The mean handgrip strength was 38.1±10.6 kg for men and 23.3±5.6 kg for women (p<0.05). Obesity measures are inversely related to the amount of handgrip strength. The relationship between total body fat and handgrip strength was r = -0.413 in men and r = -0.364 (p<0.05) in women. Conclusion: Obese people are at risk for muscle deficiency.