{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,27]],"date-time":"2026-10-27T23:32:55Z","timestamp":1793143975732,"version":"4.5.0"},"reference-count":40,"publisher":"Frontiers Media SA","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,17]],"date-time":"2026-07-17T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1784246400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["frontiersin.org"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Front. Med."],"abstract":"\n Objective<\/jats:title>\n To identify body composition phenotypes and compare physical function across phenotypes among community-dwelling older adults, with a secondary exploratory analysis of limb muscle mass asymmetry.<\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>\n \n Methods<\/jats:title>\n This cross-sectional study included 600 community-dwelling adults aged 60\u201379 years in Bengbu, Anhui, China. Body composition was assessed using bioelectrical impedance analysis. Body fat percentage, trunk fat mass, and lower-limb muscle mass were standardized within sex and entered into latent profile analysis to identify body composition phenotypes. Upper- and lower-limb muscle mass asymmetry indices (AIs) were calculated and standardized for secondary exploratory analyses. Physical function was assessed using the 30-s chair stand, one-leg stance with eyes closed, grip strength, and 2-min high-knee stepping in place. ANCOVA, linear regression, logistic regression, subgroup analyses, and extreme-group analyses were performed, with FDR correction applied to regression-related analyses.<\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>\n \n Results<\/jats:title>\n \n Three distinct body composition phenotypes were identified: low-adiposity phenotype (C1, 27%), balanced phenotype (C2, 55%), and high-adiposity\u2013high-muscle phenotype (C3, 18%). After adjustment for age and sex, significant differences across phenotypes were observed in grip strength (\n P<\/jats:italic>\n = 0.003), one-leg stance with eyes closed (\n P<\/jats:italic>\n = 0.002), and 30-s chair stand performance (\n P<\/jats:italic>\n = 0.003), but not in 2-min high-knee stepping in place. The high-adiposity\u2013high-muscle phenotype had the highest grip strength, whereas the low-adiposity phenotype had the longest one-leg stance time and the best 30-s chair stand performance. Linear regression analyses showed no significant associations between upper- or lower-limb AI and continuous functional performance outcomes after FDR correction. In logistic regression analyses, upper-limb AI was nominally associated with sample-defined low one-leg stance performance (OR = 1.215, 95% CI: 1.017\u20131.452,\n P<\/jats:italic>\n = 0.032), but this association did not remain significant after FDR correction. No significant association was observed for lower-limb AI.\n <\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>\n \n Conclusion<\/jats:title>\n Community-dwelling older adults showed heterogeneous body composition phenotypes with significant differences in several physical function domains. Limb muscle mass asymmetry was not robustly associated with functional performance after correction for multiple comparisons. These findings suggest that body composition phenotypes may provide useful information for understanding functional heterogeneity in older adults, whereas the role of limb muscle mass asymmetry requires further investigation.<\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.3389\/fmed.2026.1862786","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,17]],"date-time":"2026-07-17T05:45:01Z","timestamp":1784267101000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":1,"title":["Associations between body composition phenotypes and physical function in community-dwelling older adults: an exploratory analysis of limb muscle mass asymmetry"],"prefix":"10.3389","volume":"13","author":[{"given":"Yawen","family":"Lv","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Graduate School, Bengbu Medical University","place":["Bengbu, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Ziwen","family":"Zhou","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Graduate School, Bengbu Medical University","place":["Bengbu, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Xiaoyue","family":"Shen","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Graduate School, Bengbu Medical University","place":["Bengbu, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Hongyu","family":"Wang","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Humanities and Health, Bengbu Medical University","place":["Bengbu, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1965","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,17]]},"reference":[{"key":"B1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2451","DOI":"10.18502\/ijph.v50i12.7927","article-title":"The impact of population ageing: a review.","volume":"50","author":"Ismail","year":"2021","journal-title":"Iran J Public Health."},{"key":"B2","volume-title":"Twice as Long \u2013 Life Expectancy Around the World.","author":"Roser","year":"2018"},{"key":"B3","volume-title":"World Social Report: Leaving No One Behind in an Ageing World.","year":"2023"},{"key":"B4","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"125","DOI":"10.1007\/s40520-025-03021-8","article-title":"Aging, longevity, and healthy aging: the public health approach.","volume":"37","author":"Gianfredi","year":"2025","journal-title":"Aging Clin Exp Res."},{"key":"B5","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"976","DOI":"10.1186\/s12877-022-03559-6","article-title":"Investigating the relationship between specific executive functions and functional decline among community-dwelling older adults: results from a prospective pilot study.","volume":"22","author":"Verreckt","year":"2022","journal-title":"BMC Geriatr."},{"key":"B6","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"394","DOI":"10.1007\/s12603-010-0086-x","article-title":"Predicting functional adverse outcomes in hospitalized older patients: a systematic review of screening tools.","volume":"14","author":"De Saint-Hubert","year":"2010","journal-title":"J Nutr Health Aging."},{"key":"B7","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"212","DOI":"10.5582\/bst.2024.01180","article-title":"Addressing healthy aging in China: practices and prospects.","volume":"18","author":"Wang","year":"2024","journal-title":"BST."},{"key":"B8","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1575580","DOI":"10.3389\/fnut.2025.1575580","article-title":"Exercise interventions of \u22658 weeks improve body composition, physical function, metabolism, and inflammation in older adults with stage I sarcopenic obesity: a systematic review and meta-analysis.","volume":"12","author":"Wei","year":"2025","journal-title":"Front Nutr."},{"key":"B9","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"249","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jamda.2011.01.003","article-title":"Sarcopenia: an undiagnosed condition in older adults. current consensus definition: prevalence, etiology, and consequences. international working group on sarcopenia.","volume":"12","author":"Fielding","year":"2011","journal-title":"J Am Med Direct Assoc."},{"key":"B10","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2973","DOI":"10.3390\/ijms24032973","article-title":"Prevalence and mechanisms of skeletal muscle atrophy in metabolic conditions.","volume":"24","author":"Jun","year":"2023","journal-title":"IJMS."},{"key":"B11","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"513","DOI":"10.1038\/s41574-018-0062-9","article-title":"Sarcopenic obesity in older adults: aetiology, epidemiology and treatment strategies.","volume":"14","author":"Batsis","year":"2018","journal-title":"Nat Rev Endocrinol."},{"key":"B12","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"51","DOI":"10.3390\/nu16010051","article-title":"The impact of obesity on the health of the older population: a cross-sectional study on the relationship between health-related quality of life and body mass index across different age groups.","volume":"16","author":"Reinbacher","year":"2023","journal-title":"Nutrients."},{"key":"B13","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"761","DOI":"10.1038\/ijo.2015.243","article-title":"Diagnostic accuracy of body mass index to identify obesity in older adults: NHANES 1999\u20132004.","volume":"40","author":"Batsis","year":"2016","journal-title":"Int J Obes."},{"key":"B14","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1097\/MCO.0000000000000802","article-title":"The fatter, the better in old age: the current understanding of a difficult relationship.","volume":"25","author":"Fonseca","year":"2022","journal-title":"Curr Opin Clin Nutr Metab Care."},{"key":"B15","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e252610","DOI":"10.1148\/radiol.252610","article-title":"Association of body fat distribution patterns at MRI with brain structure, cognition, and neurologic diseases.","volume":"318","author":"Yu","year":"2026","journal-title":"Radiology."},{"key":"B16","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"6","DOI":"10.1186\/s11556-025-00372-z","article-title":"Body composition and functional capacity as determinants of physical activity in middle-aged and older adults: a cross-sectional analysis.","volume":"22","author":"Hyv\u00e4rinen","year":"2025","journal-title":"Eur Rev Aging Phys Act."},{"key":"B17","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1731","DOI":"10.1007\/s41999-025-01230-y","article-title":"The association between muscle mass and change in physical functioning in older adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective studies.","volume":"16","author":"Visser","year":"2025","journal-title":"Eur Geriatr Med."},{"key":"B18","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"112936","DOI":"10.1016\/j.exger.2025.112936","article-title":"Obesity indicators and risk of mortality and functional health outcomes in Asian community-dwelling older adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis.","volume":"212","author":"Shin","year":"2025","journal-title":"Exp Gerontol."},{"key":"B19","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"117","DOI":"10.1097\/NT.0000000000000092","article-title":"Body mass index: obesity, BMI, and health a critical review.","volume":"50","author":"Nuttall","year":"2015","journal-title":"Nutr Today."},{"key":"B20","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1449189","DOI":"10.3389\/fnut.2024.1449189","article-title":"Body compositions phenotypes of older adults with COPD.","volume":"11","author":"Kalu\u017aniak-Szymanowska","year":"2024","journal-title":"Front Nutr."},{"key":"B21","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"7","DOI":"10.1186\/s11556-025-00397-4","article-title":"Physical behaviour profiles and their associations with fitness and function in older adults: a cross-sectional latent profile analysis.","volume":"23","author":"Zymbal","year":"2026","journal-title":"Eur Rev Aging Phys Act."},{"key":"B22","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1901","DOI":"10.1111\/sms.13524","article-title":"Influence of between-limb asymmetry in muscle mass, strength, and power on functional capacity in healthy older adults.","volume":"29","author":"Mertz","year":"2019","journal-title":"Scand Med Sci Sports."},{"key":"B23","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1135","DOI":"10.1080\/02640414.2017.1361894","article-title":"Effects of inter-limb asymmetries on physical and sports performance: a systematic review.","volume":"36","author":"Bishop","year":"2018","journal-title":"J Sports Sci."},{"key":"B24","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"594","DOI":"10.52082\/jssm.2021.594","article-title":"The calculation, thresholds and reporting of inter-limb strength asymmetry: a systematic review.","volume":"120","author":"Parkinson","year":"2021","journal-title":"J Sport Sci Med."},{"key":"B25","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"448","DOI":"10.1123\/ijspp.2015-0321","article-title":"Relationships between potentiation effects after ballistic half-squats and bilateral symmetry.","volume":"11","author":"Suchomel","year":"2016","journal-title":"Intern J Sports Physiol Perform."},{"key":"B26","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"igx008","DOI":"10.1093\/geroni\/igx008","article-title":"Body composition and physical function in older adults with various comorbidities.","volume":"1","author":"Kim","year":"2017","journal-title":"Innov Aging."},{"key":"B27","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1077255","DOI":"10.3389\/fendo.2023.1077255","article-title":"The role of obesity in sarcopenia and the optimal body composition to prevent against sarcopenia and obesity.","volume":"14","author":"Liu","year":"2023","journal-title":"Front Endocrinol."},{"key":"B28","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"111561","DOI":"10.1016\/j.exger.2021.111561","article-title":"Aging, obesity, sarcopenia and the effect of diet and exercise intervention.","volume":"155","author":"Colleluori","year":"2021","journal-title":"Exp Gerontol."},{"key":"B29","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"261","DOI":"10.1038\/s41574-023-00943-z","article-title":"Sarcopenic obesity in older adults: a clinical overview.","volume":"20","author":"Prado","year":"2024","journal-title":"Nat Rev Endocrinol."},{"key":"B30","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"24802","DOI":"10.1038\/s41598-024-76417-7","article-title":"Analysis of body composition, functionality and muscle-specific strength of older women with obesity, sarcopenia and sarcopenic obesity: a cross-sectional study.","volume":"14","author":"Da Costa Teixeira","year":"2024","journal-title":"Sci Rep."},{"key":"B31","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"584","DOI":"10.1007\/s13679-024-00580-1","article-title":"Strengths and limitations of BMI in the diagnosis of obesity: what is the path forward?","volume":"13","author":"Sweatt","year":"2024","journal-title":"Curr Obes Rep."},{"key":"B32","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"afac242","DOI":"10.1093\/ageing\/afac242","article-title":"Handgrip strength rather than chair stand test should be used to diagnose sarcopenia in geriatric rehabilitation inpatients: restoring health of acutely unwell adulTs (RESORT).","volume":"51","author":"Verstraeten","year":"2022","journal-title":"Age Ageing."},{"key":"B33","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e53975","DOI":"10.2196\/53975","article-title":"Phase angle and impedance ratio as indicators of physical function and fear of falling in older adult women: cross-sectional analysis.","volume":"7","author":"Sterner","year":"2024","journal-title":"JMIR Aging."},{"key":"B34","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"104716","DOI":"10.1016\/j.archger.2022.104716","article-title":"Handgrip strength asymmetry is associated with slow gait speed and poorer standing balance in older Americans.","volume":"102","author":"McGrath","year":"2022","journal-title":"Arch Gerontol Geriatr."},{"key":"B35","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1143","DOI":"10.1093\/gerona\/glw236","article-title":"Rhythmic interlimb coordination impairments and the risk for developing mobility limitations.","volume":"72","author":"James","year":"2017","journal-title":"J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci."},{"key":"B36","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"71","DOI":"10.1016\/j.gaitpost.2019.08.010","article-title":"Can arm movements improve postural stability during challenging standing balance tasks?","volume":"74","author":"Objero","year":"2019","journal-title":"Gait & Posture."},{"key":"B37","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"714","DOI":"10.14336\/AD.2024.0124-1","article-title":"Age-Related dysfunction in balance: a comprehensive review of causes, consequences, and interventions.","volume":"16","author":"Wang","year":"2025","journal-title":"Aging Dis."},{"key":"B38","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"328","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jesf.2022.07.004","article-title":"The relationships of postural stability with muscle strength and proprioception are different among older adults over and under 75 years of age.","volume":"20","author":"Wang","year":"2022","journal-title":"J Exerc Sci Fitness."},{"key":"B39","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1287994","DOI":"10.3389\/fpubh.2023.1287994","article-title":"Age- and sex-specific normative values for muscle mass parameters in 18,625 Brazilian adults.","volume":"11","author":"Coelho-J\u00fanior","year":"2024","journal-title":"Front Public Health."},{"key":"B40","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"93","DOI":"10.1093\/gerona\/glt027","article-title":"Body composition explains sex differential in physical performance among older adults.","volume":"69","author":"Tseng","year":"2014","journal-title":"J Gerontol Series A: Biol Sci Med Sci."}],"container-title":["Frontiers in Medicine"],"original-title":[],"link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fmed.2026.1862786\/full","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,17]],"date-time":"2026-07-17T05:45:03Z","timestamp":1784267103000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fmed.2026.1862786\/full"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,17]]},"references-count":40,"alternative-id":["10.3389\/fmed.2026.1862786"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/fmed.2026.1862786","relation":{},"ISSN":["2296-858X"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2296-858X","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,17]]},"article-number":"1862786"}}