Adipose–muscle crosstalk during the menopausal transition: mechanistic links to sarcopenic obesity in midlife women
By
Weixin Zhang
Qianhao Wu
Qianyuan Chen
Wenxing Qin
Dongfang Zhang
Qingrong Xu
Peipei Han
Ji Sun
May 4, 2026
Clinical Scorecard: Interactions Between Adipose Tissue and Muscle During Menopause: Mechanisms Linking to Sarcopenic Obesity in Women of Midlife
At a Glance
Category Detail
Condition Key Mechanisms Inflammation, dysregulation of adipokines, lipotoxic flux, diminished muscle output, myosteatosis Target Population Care Setting
Key Highlights
Sarcopenic obesity is characterized by excess body fat and reduced muscle mass/function. Menopausal transition accelerates fat accumulation and lean mass decline. Standard BMI measurements may not accurately reflect body composition changes. Myosteatosis negatively impacts muscle strength and is linked to metabolic disorders. Estrogen depletion exacerbates muscle quality and metabolic balance. Estrogen plays a crucial role in maintaining muscle quality and metabolic health. Guideline-Based Recommendations
Diagnosis
Management
Implement progressive resistance training and per-meal protein distribution. Address inflammation and metabolic dysregulation in treatment plans. Monitoring & Follow-up
Risks
Patient & Prescribing Data
Middle-aged women experiencing menopausal transition.
Focus on function-first approaches to mitigate lean mass loss and promote muscle health.
Clinical Best Practices
Assess body composition beyond BMI to identify high fat content in normal-weight women. Address inflammation and metabolic dysregulation in treatment plans. Utilize ultrasound echo intensity for scalable assessment of muscle quality. References
