{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,2]],"date-time":"2026-07-02T19:18:46Z","timestamp":1783019926718,"version":"3.54.6"},"reference-count":37,"publisher":"Public Library of Science (PLoS)","issue":"7","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,2]],"date-time":"2026-07-02T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1782950400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"http:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["www.plosone.org"],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["PLoS One"],"abstract":"<jats:p>\n                    Obesity is a primary global public health concern, often associated with impaired muscle function and an increased risk of exercise-related injuries. This cross-sectional study aimed to elucidate the associations among muscular strength, body load, and functional capacity in young adults with obesity. A total of 75 male university students were recruited, including a normal-weight group (n\u2009=\u200947, BMI 18.5\u201324.99) and an obese group (n\u2009=\u200928, BMI\u2009\u2265\u200930). Assessments included handgrip strength, one-repetition maximum (1RM) for squat, deadlift, and bench press, as well as isokinetic strength evaluations across four major joints (shoulder, elbow, hip, and knee), yielding 32 strength-related variables. After normalizing all strength measures to body weight, the obese group demonstrated significantly lower relative strength across all parameters compared to the normal-weight group (\n                    <jats:italic>P<\/jats:italic>\n                    \u2009&lt;\u20090.001), indicating a distinct \u201cstrength-to-load imbalance.\u201d To identify key predictors of handgrip strength while addressing potential overfitting, we employed least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression with cross-validation. The final model retained five predictors: elbow flexion maximum work at 180\u00b0\/s (EF180\u00b0Wmax), elbow flexion peak torque at 180\u00b0\/s (EF180\u00b0Fmax), elbow extension peak torque at 60\u00b0\/s (EE60\u00b0Fmax), shoulder flexion peak torque at 60\u00b0\/s (SF60\u00b0Fmax), and group (obese vs. normal), together explaining 63.3% of the variance in handgrip strength (adjusted R\u00b2\u2009=\u20090.606), although this finding should be interpreted with caution due to the sample size and requires validation in larger cohorts. Notably, group membership remained a significant independent predictor (\u03b2\u2009=\u2009\u22120.23, P\u2009=\u20090.014), underscoring the persistent deficit in relative strength associated with obesity even after accounting for joint-specific strength. By incorporating a multidimensional assessment of strength across multiple joints, this study moves beyond the limitations of single-joint evaluations and offers theoretical support for the potential use of handgrip strength as a practical indicator of overall muscle function in obese populations. Further research with larger samples and longitudinal designs is needed to validate its utility as a screening tool. These findings have important implications for designing function-oriented, precision-based exercise interventions for obese populations.\n                  <\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0353228","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,2]],"date-time":"2026-07-02T18:00:35Z","timestamp":1783015235000},"page":"e0353228","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1371\/journal.pone.corrections_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Muscle strength characteristics and the predictive value of handgrip strength in young obese males: A multi\u2011joint isokinetic and LASSO regression analysis"],"prefix":"10.1371","volume":"21","author":[{"given":"Sen","family":"Yang","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Jian","family":"Li","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Shuwei","family":"Chen","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0009-3707-9609","authenticated-orcid":true,"given":"Xinbi","family":"Zhang","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-7076-5717","authenticated-orcid":true,"given":"Jia","family":"Zeng","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"340","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,2]]},"reference":[{"issue":"3","key":"pone.0353228.ref001","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"790","DOI":"10.1002\/1878-0261.12772","article-title":"Physical activity, obesity and sedentary behavior in cancer etiology: epidemiologic evidence and biologic mechanisms","volume":"15","author":"CM Friedenreich","year":"2021","journal-title":"Mol Oncol"},{"issue":"7","key":"pone.0353228.ref002","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1323","DOI":"10.1002\/oby.23444","article-title":"Metabolic dysfunction and obesity-related cancer: beyond obesity and metabolic syndrome","volume":"30","author":"P Karra","year":"2022","journal-title":"Obesity (Silver Spring)"},{"key":"pone.0353228.ref003","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"4","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ejim.2022.04.022","article-title":"Uric acid in metabolic syndrome: does uric acid have a definitive role?","volume":"103","author":"S Copur","year":"2022","journal-title":"Eur J Intern Med"},{"issue":"4","key":"pone.0353228.ref004","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"337","DOI":"10.1097\/HCO.0000000000001029","article-title":"Are serum uric acid levels predictors of cardiovascular risk? An update","volume":"38","author":"M Georgoulis","year":"2023","journal-title":"Curr Opin Cardiol"},{"issue":"3","key":"pone.0353228.ref005","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1882","DOI":"10.3390\/ijms25031882","article-title":"The role of obesity in type 2 diabetes mellitus-an overview","volume":"25","author":"P Chandrasekaran","year":"2024","journal-title":"Int J Mol Sci"},{"issue":"2","key":"pone.0353228.ref006","article-title":"Causal associations of obesity with chronic kidney disease and arterial stiffness: a mendelian randomization study","volume":"107","author":"C Ye","year":"2022","journal-title":"J Clin Endocrinol Metab"},{"issue":"6428","key":"pone.0353228.ref007","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1401","DOI":"10.1136\/bmj.288.6428.1401","article-title":"Abdominal adipose tissue distribution, obesity, and risk of cardiovascular disease and death: 13 year follow up of participants in the study of men born in 1913","volume":"288","author":"B Larsson","year":"1984","journal-title":"Br Med J (Clin Res Ed)"},{"issue":"4","key":"pone.0353228.ref008","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"481","DOI":"10.1007\/s00421-008-0737-3","article-title":"Quadriceps muscle function characteristics in severely obese and nonobese adolescents","volume":"103","author":"NA Maffiuletti","year":"2008","journal-title":"Eur J Appl Physiol"},{"issue":"5","key":"pone.0353228.ref009","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"676","DOI":"10.1038\/sj.ijo.0801560","article-title":"Study of differences in peripheral muscle strength of lean versus obese women: an allometric approach","volume":"25","author":"M Hulens","year":"2001","journal-title":"Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord"},{"issue":"1","key":"pone.0353228.ref010","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"51","DOI":"10.1007\/s00421-007-0471-2","article-title":"Differences in quadriceps muscle strength and fatigue between lean and obese subjects","volume":"101","author":"NA Maffiuletti","year":"2007","journal-title":"Eur J Appl Physiol"},{"issue":"2","key":"pone.0353228.ref011","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"234","DOI":"10.1038\/sj.ijo.0802552","article-title":"Physical disability and muscular strength in relation to obesity and different body composition indexes in a sample of healthy elderly women","volume":"28","author":"E Zoico","year":"2004","journal-title":"Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord"},{"issue":"3","key":"pone.0353228.ref012","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"467","DOI":"10.1007\/s10522-015-9626-4","article-title":"The impact of obesity on skeletal muscle strength and structure through adolescence to old age","volume":"17","author":"DJ Tomlinson","year":"2016","journal-title":"Biogerontology"},{"issue":"2","key":"pone.0353228.ref013","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"269","DOI":"10.1139\/h2012-010","article-title":"Knee extension strength in obese and nonobese male adolescents","volume":"37","author":"A Abdelmoula","year":"2012","journal-title":"Appl Physiol Nutr Metab"},{"issue":"10","key":"pone.0353228.ref014","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1016\/j.apmr.2018.01.008","article-title":"Muscular strength as a predictor of all-cause mortality in an apparently healthy population: a systematic review and meta-analysis of data from approximately 2 million men and women","volume":"99","author":"A Garc\u00eda-Hermoso","year":"2018","journal-title":"Arch Phys Med Rehabil"},{"issue":"5","key":"pone.0353228.ref015","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"413","DOI":"10.1123\/jsr.2017-0132","article-title":"Effect of sex and level of activity on lower-extremity strength, functional performance, and limb symmetry","volume":"28","author":"C Lisee","year":"2019","journal-title":"J Sport Rehabil"},{"issue":"1","key":"pone.0353228.ref016","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"228","DOI":"10.1093\/ije\/dyl224","article-title":"Grip strength, body composition, and mortality","volume":"36","author":"CR Gale","year":"2007","journal-title":"Int J Epidemiol"},{"issue":"5","key":"pone.0353228.ref017","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1468","DOI":"10.1158\/1055-9965.EPI-08-1075","article-title":"Muscular strength and adiposity as predictors of adulthood cancer mortality in men","volume":"18","author":"JR Ruiz","year":"2009","journal-title":"Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev"},{"key":"pone.0353228.ref018","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"359","DOI":"10.1515\/med-2017-0052","article-title":"Absolute reliability and concurrent validity of hand held dynamometry and isokinetic dynamometry in the hip, knee and ankle joint: systematic review and meta-analysis","volume":"12","author":"C Chamorro","year":"2017","journal-title":"Open Med (Wars)"},{"key":"pone.0353228.ref019","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"106","DOI":"10.1016\/j.knee.2022.09.004","article-title":"Isokinetic strengthening and neuromuscular electrical stimulation protocol impact on physical performances, functional status and quality of life in knee osteoarthritis overweight\/obese women","volume":"39","author":"N Hammami","year":"2022","journal-title":"Knee"},{"issue":"3","key":"pone.0353228.ref020","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"154","DOI":"10.1159\/000091824","article-title":"Is hand-held dynamometry useful for the measurement of quadriceps strength in older people? A comparison with the gold standard Bodex dynamometry","volume":"52","author":"HJ Martin","year":"2006","journal-title":"Gerontology"},{"key":"pone.0353228.ref021","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"269","DOI":"10.3233\/IES-201150","article-title":"Isokinetic testing of muscle strength in older adults with knee osteoarthritis: An integrative review","volume":"28","author":"BJ Myers","year":"2020","journal-title":"Isokinet Exerc Sci"},{"issue":"6","key":"pone.0353228.ref022","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"423","DOI":"10.1123\/jsr.2023-0253","article-title":"Isokinetic peak torque improvement and shoulder muscle ratios imbalance correction after specific strength training on a new ballistic throwing device: a randomized controlled trial","volume":"33","author":"B Agrebi","year":"2024","journal-title":"J Sport Rehabil"},{"issue":"9","key":"pone.0353228.ref023","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2168","DOI":"10.1016\/j.numecd.2022.06.018","article-title":"Is handgrip strength a marker of muscle and physical function of the lower limbs? Sex differences in older adults with obesity","volume":"32","author":"V Muollo","year":"2022","journal-title":"Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis"},{"issue":"5","key":"pone.0353228.ref024","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"272","DOI":"10.6061\/clinics\/2017(05)03","article-title":"Muscle strength and body composition in severe obesity","volume":"72","author":"AV Gadducci","year":"2017","journal-title":"Clinics (Sao Paulo)"},{"issue":"6","key":"pone.0353228.ref025","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2048","DOI":"10.1152\/japplphysiol.01442.2005","article-title":"Calf muscle-tendon properties and postural balance in old age","volume":"100","author":"GL Onambele","year":"2006","journal-title":"J Appl Physiol (1985)"},{"issue":"4","key":"pone.0353228.ref026","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"886","DOI":"10.1519\/JSC.0000000000003921","article-title":"Resistance training to failure vs. not to failure: acute and delayed markers of mechanical, neuromuscular, and biochemical fatigue","volume":"35","author":"JM Gonz\u00e1lez-Hern\u00e1ndez","year":"2021","journal-title":"J Strength Cond Res"},{"issue":"8","key":"pone.0353228.ref027","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1366","DOI":"10.1519\/JSC.0000000000004803","article-title":"4-6 Repetition Maximum (RM) and 1-RM prediction in free-weight bench press and smith machine squat based on body mass in male athletes","volume":"38","author":"W Dhahbi","year":"2024","journal-title":"J Strength Cond Res"},{"issue":"7","key":"pone.0353228.ref028","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1519\/JSC.0000000000001922","article-title":"Methodological issues associated with the use of force plates when assessing push-ups power","volume":"31","author":"W Dhahbi","year":"2017","journal-title":"Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research"},{"issue":"10","key":"pone.0353228.ref029","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2952","DOI":"10.1519\/JSC.0000000000001367","article-title":"External responsiveness and intrasession reliability of the rope-climbing test","volume":"30","author":"W Dhahbi","year":"2016","journal-title":"J Strength Cond Res"},{"issue":"2","key":"pone.0353228.ref030","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"87","DOI":"10.1016\/j.rehab.2016.01.005","article-title":"Contribution of isokinetic muscle strengthening in the rehabilitation of obese subjects","volume":"59","author":"S Ghroubi","year":"2016","journal-title":"Ann Phys Rehabil Med"},{"issue":"8","key":"pone.0353228.ref031","first-page":"567","article-title":"Correlation of adiponectin and leptin with anthropometrics and behavioral and physical performance in overweight and obese chinese college students","volume":"13","author":"J Sun","year":"2024","journal-title":"Biology (Basel)"},{"issue":"7","key":"pone.0353228.ref032","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1033","DOI":"10.1111\/obr.12848","article-title":"A systematic review on biomechanical characteristics of walking in children and adolescents with overweight\/obesity: Possible implications for the development of musculoskeletal disorders","volume":"20","author":"P Molina-Garcia","year":"2019","journal-title":"Obes Rev"},{"issue":"1","key":"pone.0353228.ref033","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"35","DOI":"10.1046\/j.1467-789X.2002.00054.x","article-title":"The biomechanics of adiposity--structural and functional limitations of obesity and implications for movement","volume":"3","author":"AP Hills","year":"2002","journal-title":"Obes Rev"},{"issue":"6","key":"pone.0353228.ref034","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1152\/ajpendo.00204.2014","article-title":"Skeletal muscle atrophy and the E3 ubiquitin ligases MuRF1 and MAFbx\/atrogin-1","volume":"307","author":"SC Bodine","year":"2014","journal-title":"Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab"},{"issue":"12","key":"pone.0353228.ref035","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"683","DOI":"10.1038\/s41574-020-0405-1","article-title":"Tuning fatty acid oxidation in skeletal muscle with dietary fat and exercise","volume":"16","author":"AM Fritzen","year":"2020","journal-title":"Nat Rev Endocrinol"},{"issue":"6","key":"pone.0353228.ref036","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1152\/ajpendo.00416.2001","article-title":"Muscle fiber type is associated with obesity and weight loss","volume":"282","author":"CJ Tanner","year":"2002","journal-title":"Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab"},{"issue":"1","key":"pone.0353228.ref037","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"197","DOI":"10.1007\/s00421-013-2762-0","article-title":"Obesity-related differences in neural correlates of force control","volume":"114","author":"RK Mehta","year":"2014","journal-title":"Eur J Appl Physiol"}],"container-title":["PLOS One"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/dx.plos.org\/10.1371\/journal.pone.0353228","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,2]],"date-time":"2026-07-02T18:00:41Z","timestamp":1783015241000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/dx.plos.org\/10.1371\/journal.pone.0353228"}},"subtitle":[],"editor":[{"given":"Wajiha","family":"Shahid","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"editor"}]}],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,2]]},"references-count":37,"journal-issue":{"issue":"7","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,2]]}},"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1371\/journal.pone.0353228","relation":{},"ISSN":["1932-6203"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1932-6203","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,2]]}}}