biostudies-literatureUnknown13Cheng G<h4>Objective</h4>This study aimed to explore the relationship between early adulthood obesity and sarcopenic obesity (SO) among middle-aged and older adults in the United States.<h4>Methods</h4>This retrospective study was conducted involving adults aged 50-69 years in the United States. Data were extracted from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) during the periods 1999-2006 and 2011-2018. Height and weight at the age of 25 years were measured. Body mass index (BMI) at the age of 25 years (BMI₂₅) was calculated. Healthy weight, overweight, and obesity at the age of 25 years (healthy weight₂₅, overweight₂₅, and obesity₂₅) were defined as BMI₂₅ 18.5 to less than 25 kg/m², 25 to less than 30 kg/m², and 30 kg/m² or greater, respectively. SO was determined by dividing appendicular skeletal muscle mass by weight (ASM/Wt) and percentage of fat mass [FM (%)].<h4>Results</h4>The prevalence of SO was 5.4, 8.5, and 16.5% in healthy weight₂₅, overweight₂₅, and obesity₂₅ groups, respectively. After adjusting for confounding factors, the prevalence of SO in the overweight₂₅ group and the obesity₂₅ group was 1.161 times (95%CI: 0.898-1.500, <i>p</i> = 0.254) and 2.286 times (95%CI: 1.651-3.165, <i>p</i> < 0.001) higher, respectively, compared to the healthy weight₂₅ group.<h4>Conclusion</h4>This study demonstrates that obesity in early adulthood is closely associated with an increased risk of sarcopenic obesity among middle-aged and older adults.Frontiers in public health1609325https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC12433845biostudies-literatureThe relationship between early adulthood obesity and sarcopenic obesity among middle-aged and older adults in the United States.PMC12433845Wang CCheng GZhou YWang YXu JfalseThe relationship between early adulthood obesity and sarcopenic obesity among middle-aged and older adults in the United States.<h4>Objective</h4>This study aimed to explore the relationship between early adulthood obesity and sarcopenic obesity (SO) among middle-aged and older adults in the United States.<h4>Methods</h4>This retrospective study was conducted involving adults aged 50-69 years in the United States. Data were extracted from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) during the periods 1999-2006 and 2011-2018. Height and weight at the age of 25 years were measured. Body mass index (BMI) at the age of 25 years (BMI₂₅) was calculated. Healthy weight, overweight, and obesity at the age of 25 years (healthy weight₂₅, overweight₂₅, and obesity₂₅) were defined as BMI₂₅ 18.5 to less than 25 kg/m², 25 to less than 30 kg/m², and 30 kg/m² or greater, respectively. SO was determined by dividing appendicular skeletal muscle mass by weight (ASM/Wt) and percentage of fat mass [FM (%)].<h4>Results</h4>The prevalence of SO was 5.4, 8.5, and 16.5% in healthy weight₂₅, overweight₂₅, and obesity₂₅ groups, respectively. After adjusting for confounding factors, the prevalence of SO in the overweight₂₅ group and the obesity₂₅ group was 1.161 times (95%CI: 0.898-1.500, <i>p</i> = 0.254) and 2.286 times (95%CI: 1.651-3.165, <i>p</i> < 0.001) higher, respectively, compared to the healthy weight₂₅ group.<h4>Conclusion</h4>This study demonstrates that obesity in early adulthood is closely associated with an increased risk of sarcopenic obesity among middle-aged and older adults.2025-01-01T00:00:00Z20252026-04-08T19:53:49.996Z2026-04-08T14:36:08.55ZS-EPMC124338454095962610.3389/fpubh.2025.1609325