Sarcopenic Obesity in Children: An Emerging Complication Evidenced by Clinical Data and a Juvenile Mouse Model

作者：Senjie Wang, Wei Zhang, Zhewen Qin, X L Zhou, Chuqing Xue, D Wang, Xinyi Liang, Zixin Zhang, Shumin Zhan, S J Wang, Wei Wu, Junfen Fu, Rahim Ullah · 发表于：Journal of Cachexia Sarcopenia and Muscle · 年份：2026 · DOI：10.1002/jcsm.70278 · 被引用次数：1 · 研究领域：Nutrition and Health in Aging、Muscle Physiology and Disorders、Adipokines, Inflammation, and Metabolic Diseases

BACKGROUND: Sarcopenic obesity (SO) is well-characterized in older adults, but its impact on muscle development in children remains poorly understood. This study investigated the effects of childhood obesity on musculoskeletal health and the underlying mechanisms. METHODS: We enrolled 1447 children (31.4% girls; median age 11.10 years, IQR 9.39-12.50) for body composition assessment via dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and a separate cohort of 349 children (33.2% girls; median age 11.13 years, IQR 9.73-12.80) for grip strength measurement. A juvenile mouse model of high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity was established and compared to an adult-onset model. Molecular pathways were examined via RNA sequencing and RT-qPCR. Interventions included dietary reversal and vitamin C supplementation. RESULTS: In children, the appendicular skeletal muscle mass ratio (ASMR) Z-score was inversely correlated with BMI-Z score (ρ = -0.369, p < 0.001) and body fat percentage (ρ = -0.668, p < 0.001). According to weight-specific reference criteria, most of children with obesity exhibited low grip strength (below the 25th percentile). In mice, 4 weeks of HFD feeding in juveniles, but not adults, significantly reduced muscle mass (-6%, p < 0.05), muscle fibre diameter (-8%, p < 0.001), grip strength (-14%, p < 0.01) and rotarod performance (-29%, p < 0.05). RNA sequence and RT-qPCR revealed that HFD suppressed myogenic regulatory factors (e.g., Myod, Myog) and promoted adipogenic pathways spec...