Muscle strength and body composition in severe obesity

• Main Authors: Alexandre Vieira Gadducci, Roberto de Cleva, Gabriela Correia de Faria Santarém, Paulo Roberto Santos Silva, Julia Maria D’Andréa Greve, Marco Aurélio Santo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Faculdade de Medicina / USP
• Series: Clinics
• Subjects: Obesity; Body Composition; Muscle Strength
• Online Access: http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1807-59322017000500272&lng=en&tlng=en

OBJECTIVE: The aim of our study was to evaluate associations between maximum voluntary contraction torques of the lower limbs and body composition for subjects with severe obesity. METHODS: Body composition was evaluated by bioelectrical impedance analysis, and maximum voluntary contraction torques of the lower limbs were measured using an isokinetic dynamometer. One hundred thirty-two patients were enrolled (100 females and 32 males). Eighty-seven patients had a body mass index between 40 and 49.9 kg/m2 (the A group), and 45 patients had a body mass index between 50 and 59.9 kg/m2 (the B group). RESULTS: Absolute extension and flexion torques had weak associations with fat-free mass but a moderate association with absolute extension torque and fat-free mass of the lower limbs. There were no significant differences between the A and B groups with respect to absolute extension and flexion torques. For the A group, absolute extension and flexion torques were moderately associated with fat-free mass and with fat-free mass of the lower limbs. For the B group, there were only moderate associations between absolute extension and flexion torques with fat-free mass of the lower limbs. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings demonstrate that both groups exhibited similar absolute torque values. There were weak to moderate associations between absolute extension and flexion torques and fat-free mass but a moderate association with fat-free mass of the lower limbs. Individuals with severe obesity should strive for greater absolute torques, fat-free mass and especially fat-free mass of the lower limbs to prevent functional limitations and physical incapacity.