High-Quality Weight Loss in Obesity: Importance of Skeletal Muscle.

Abstract

Article highlights: High-quality weight loss, i.e., a high proportion of fat to skeletal muscle lost during the treatment of obesity, is advantageous for metabolic and physical health. Precise and accurate determinations of skeletal muscle mass in clinical settings are often challenging. In prevention of excessive loss of skeletal muscle during weight loss, advantages include minimization of metabolic adaptation that makes it difficult to sustain weight loss, improved glucose homeostasis and metabolic flexibility, and better mobility and strength. Effective approaches to preserving skeletal muscle include sufficient dietary protein and inclusion of exercise (especially resistance exercise) during weight loss; new pharmacological approaches are under development.