Age-dependent Changes in Skeletal Muscle Mass and Visceral Fat Area in a Chinese Population

Objective: The present study was conducted to demonstrate the age-dependent changes in skeletal muscle mass and visceral fat area in a population of Chinese adults aged 30–92 years old. Methods: A total of 6669 healthy Chinese men and 4494 healthy Chinese women aged 30–92 years old were assessed for their skeletal muscle mass and visceral fat area. Results: The results showed age-dependent decreases in the total skeletal muscle mass indexes in both men and women aged 40–92 years old as well as age-dependent increases in the visceral fat area in men aged 30–92 years old and in women aged 30–80 years old. Multivariate regression models showed that the total skeletal muscle mass index was positively associated with the body mass index and negatively associated with the age and visceral fat area in both sexes. Conclusion: The loss of skeletal muscle mass becomes obvious at approximately 50 years of age, and the visceral fat area commences to increase at approximately 40 years of age in this Chinese population.