Scholarlink

Objective <p>This study aims to investigate the incidence of sarcopenia in thin and normal-weight children and analyze their body composition differences.</p> Methods <p>Body composition was assessed using bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) in children who visited the Department of Child and Adolescent Healthcare at the Children’s Hospital of Soochow University between September 2016 and September 2024. Sarcopenia was defined as a skeletal muscle mass index (SMMI) at or below the 3rd percentile, and classified as thin sarcopenia or normal-weight sarcopenia based on international body mass index (BMI) cutoff values. Propensity score matching (PSM) balances baseline characteristics, including age and sex.</p> Results <p>A total of 41,872 children underwent body composition assessment, of whom 1,546 (3.70%) were diagnosed with sarcopenia. After PSM, the final analysis included 367 normal-weight children with sarcopenia and 734 thin children with sarcopenia. Compared to children in the normal-weight sarcopenia group, those in the Thin Group were significantly taller (<i>P</i> &lt; 0.05), but had lower body weight and body fat levels (<i>P</i> &lt; 0.001). No significant differences were found between the two groups in protein content, inorganic salts, muscle mass, lean mass, skeletal muscle mass, or bone mineral content (<i>P</i> &gt; 0.05). Children in the Thin Group had a higher percentage of skeletal muscle mass, relative muscle content, and muscle-to-fat ratio than the Normal Weight Group (<i>P</i> &lt; 0.001). Similarly, the proportion of fat-free mass (FFM) in the extremities was significantly lower in the Thin Group compared to the Normal Weight Group (<i>P</i> &lt; 0.001).</p> Conclusion <p>The coexistence rate of sarcopenia and thinness is high. The normal-weight children also require body composition analysis to identify occult sarcopenia. Sarcopenia of different body types presents two distinct physical phenotypes, which may involve different pathological mechanisms and interventions.</p> Trial registration <p>Not applicable.</p>

错误：搜索内容不能为空，请输入英文关键词
错误：关键词超出字数限制，请精简
高级检索

Comparison of body composition between thin and normal-weight sarcopenic children: a single-center, propensity score matching analysis of a large-scale study

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

    开放获取

  • 发表日期：

    2026年3月12日

查看全文
  • Xiao-lin Zhang,
  • Yi Zhou,
  • Yi-ting Ji,
  • Lu Zhao,
  • Jin-xin Gong,
  • Yan Chen,
  • Ling Shen,
  • Shi-zhong Cai,
  • Xin Li

摘要

Objective

This study aims to investigate the incidence of sarcopenia in thin and normal-weight children and analyze their body composition differences.

Methods

Body composition was assessed using bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) in children who visited the Department of Child and Adolescent Healthcare at the Children’s Hospital of Soochow University between September 2016 and September 2024. Sarcopenia was defined as a skeletal muscle mass index (SMMI) at or below the 3rd percentile, and classified as thin sarcopenia or normal-weight sarcopenia based on international body mass index (BMI) cutoff values. Propensity score matching (PSM) balances baseline characteristics, including age and sex.

Results

A total of 41,872 children underwent body composition assessment, of whom 1,546 (3.70%) were diagnosed with sarcopenia. After PSM, the final analysis included 367 normal-weight children with sarcopenia and 734 thin children with sarcopenia. Compared to children in the normal-weight sarcopenia group, those in the Thin Group were significantly taller (P < 0.05), but had lower body weight and body fat levels (P < 0.001). No significant differences were found between the two groups in protein content, inorganic salts, muscle mass, lean mass, skeletal muscle mass, or bone mineral content (P > 0.05). Children in the Thin Group had a higher percentage of skeletal muscle mass, relative muscle content, and muscle-to-fat ratio than the Normal Weight Group (P < 0.001). Similarly, the proportion of fat-free mass (FFM) in the extremities was significantly lower in the Thin Group compared to the Normal Weight Group (P < 0.001).

Conclusion

The coexistence rate of sarcopenia and thinness is high. The normal-weight children also require body composition analysis to identify occult sarcopenia. Sarcopenia of different body types presents two distinct physical phenotypes, which may involve different pathological mechanisms and interventions.

Trial registration

Not applicable.