Using relative handgrip strength to identify sarcopenic obesity in children Aged 7–10 Years

Abstract

Over the past decade, the World Health Organization has highlighted the increasing prevalence of childhood overweight and obesity as a major global health concern, further complicated by the occurrence of sarcopenic obesity in children. This study evaluated the predictive capacity of Grip-to-BMI as a marker for sarcopenic obesity risk in children aged 7–10 years. The sample consisted of 3,483 children (1,748 girls and 1,734 boys), stratified by age and sex into four groups. Assessments included standard anthropometry, bioimpedance-based body composition analysis, and handgrip strength measured using a Takei TKK 5101 digital dynamometer. Grip-to-BMI was calculated as the average of left and right handgrip strength (kg) divided by BMI (kg/m2). Discriminatory ability was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic analysis, and optimal cut-off points were derived to maximize sensitivity and specificity. Grip-to-BMI demonstrated high discrimination capacity (AUC>0.8), with the highest sensitivity and specificity in nine-year-old boys (88.64% and 80.44%), and in tenyear-old girls (81.6% and 77.78%). The results confirmed that with age the muscular mass and strength increases in boys, while girls manifest higher muscle-fat ratio compared to those of younger age. The outcomes of the research emphasize the applicability of Grip-to-BMI as a simple and effective tool for early detection and interventions aiming to decrease the sarcopenic obesity risk in children. By enabling earlier identification and timely preventive action, this approach could substantially reduce the likelihood of long-term metabolic and functional complications linked to sarcopenic obesity, while also contributing to improved overall health and well-being across the pediatric population.