Dietetics

Malnutrition and Sarcopenia: The Importance of Muscle Mass and Strength

Malnutrition and sarcopenia often go unnoticed in patients or other vulnerable individuals, even though they pose significant risks. Despite growing awareness, patients are not always diagnosed in time. Recognising the signs of malnutrition and sarcopenia—such as reduced appetite and difficulty with physical exertion—is crucial. Equally important is the ability to measure relevant clinical indicators, such as muscle mass and strength, easily and accurately.

Malnutrition and Sarcopenia: Complex Conditions with Various Causes

The European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism (ESPEN) defines malnutrition as an acute or chronic condition in which a deficiency or imbalance of energy, proteins, and other nutrients leads to negative effects on body composition, function, and clinical outcomes (Cederholm et al., 2016). Malnutrition,

Obesity and Body Composition

Overweight and obesity are growing problems worldwide. In Europe, half of the adults in 2019 were overweight, with 17% classified as obese (CBS, 2024), and the expectation is that these figures will continue to rise. Overweight and obesity are typically expressed in BMI, based on the ratio between total weight and height. But that doesn’t tell the full story. The ratio of fat to muscle mass, as well as the distribution of fat mass, can vary greatly between individuals with the same BMI, including those who are obese.

There is increasing debate about a more precise definition that better reflects potential health risks. At the start of 2025, a group of experts proposed distinguishing between preclinical obesity, where no metabolic dysfunctions are present, and clinical obesity, where such dysfunctions exist (Rubino et al., 2025). To assess individual health, this group