The effect of combining nutrient intake and physical activity levels on central obesity, sarcopenia, and sarcopenic obesity: a population-based cross-sectional study in South Korea

BACKGROUND: This study was conducted to investigate the effects of combining nutritional and physical activity (PA) factors on four different categories, according to the presence or absence of sarcopenia and central obesity. METHODS: From the 2008–2011 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2971 older adults aged ≥ 65 years were included and divided into four groups based on their sarcopenia and central obesity status: healthy control (39.3%), central obesity (28.9%), sarcopenia (27.4%), and sarcopenic obesity (4.4%). Central obesity was defined as a waist circumference of ≥ 90 cm in men and ≥ 85 cm in women. Sarcopenia was defined as an appendicular skeletal mass index of < 7.0 kg/m(2) in men and < 5.4 kg/m(2) in women, and sarcopenic obesity was defined as the coexistence of sarcopenia and central obesity. RESULTS: Participants who consumed more energy and protein than the average requirement had a lower likelihood of having sarcopenia (odds ratio (OR): 0.601, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.444–0.814) than those who did not consume enough nutrients. The likelihood of central obesity and sarcopenic obesity decreased in groups with recommended PA levels, regardless of whether energy intake met or did not meet the average requirement. Whether PA met or did not meet the recommended level, the likelihood of sarcopenia decreased in groups with energy intake that met the average requirement. However, when PA and energy requirements were met, there was a greater reduction in the likelihood of sarcopenia (OR: 0.436, 95% CI: 0.290–0.655). CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that adequate energy intake that meets requirements is more likely to be effective as a major prevention and treatment goal for sarcopenia, whereas PA guidelines should be prioritized in the case of sarcopenic obesity. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12877-023-03748-x.