Clinical impact of structured weight reduction on muscle mass in COPD with sarcopenic obesity
Abstract
Aim
This study was conducted to investigate the effect of using weight reduction programme on muscle mass in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients with sarcopenic obesity (SO).
Subjects and methods
Fifty male patients, aged 50–65 years diagnosed with SO with COPD were assessed for intervention in this study. They were randomly assigned into two equal groups (n = 25). Group A: (n = 25) received weight reduction, which included healthy lifestyle control, diet-induced weight loss (1300–1500 Kcal/day), and aerobic exercise for 40 min, that is, 3 sessions/week for 10 weeks. Group B: (n = 25) was given general information about healthy food choices and low-calorie diet (1300–1500 Kcal/day) for the same period. Anthropometric measurement (weight and Body Mass Index (BMI)), skeletal muscle mass (SMM), skeletal muscle mass index (SMMI), handgrip, and Six-Minute Walking Distance (6MWD) were measured before and after the programme.
Results
Weight and BMI significantly decreased in both groups post-treatment, and there was a significant increase in SMM, SMMI, hand grip strength, and 6 Minute Walking Test (6MWT) of group A compared with that of group B post-treatment. Also in group B, there was no significant change in SMM or SMMI, whereas handgrip strength and 6MWT showed significant increases.
Conclusion
Weight reduction programme (low-calorie diets plus exercise) in sarcopenic obese patients with COPD can effectively reduce weight and BMI, and improve the SMM, SMMI, hand grip, and six-min walk distance test.
© 2026 Alaa Magdy Mostafa, Karim Ahmed, Mahmoud Mohamed El batanouny, Lamis Ahmed Osama Ghaly, published by Romanian Society of Pneumology
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