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

Abstract

Treatment responses to behavioral, surgical, and pharmacological approaches in obesity are highly variable in quantity and quality. Here we refer to high-quality weight loss as a high proportion of fat to skeletal muscle mass lost. Given the role of skeletal muscle in energy expenditure, glucose homeostasis, metabolic flexibility, mobility, and strength, excessive loss of skeletal muscle during weight loss is a concern for overall health. Challenges in accurately measuring body composition, especially skeletal muscle, limit our understanding of muscle loss during obesity treatment. Recent incretin-related pharmacotherapies improve muscle metabolic health by enhancing glucose uptake and reducing muscle lipids but, like other weight loss interventions, are associated with muscle loss. Newer pharmacological interventions are being developed to minimize muscle loss, but many questions remain. This article examines the metabolic importance of skeletal muscle and its measurement clinically, as well as key genetic and metabolic factors influencing skeletal muscle and the quality of weight loss. Genetics can affect muscle composition (e.g., fiber types) and function. Together with metabolic factors, including neurohormonal responses and skeletal muscle metabolic efficiency and adaptation, there is variability in weight loss outcomes. In future research investigators should continue to focus on factors affecting skeletal muscle and on personalized strategies to optimize weight loss quality preserving the physical and metabolic functions of skeletal muscle.