Associations of Body Mass Index and Percent Body Fat with Osteoporosis, Sarcopenia, and Osteosarcopenia: A Retrospective Study Based on Postmenopausal Women in China

Background/Objectives: Alterations in the body mass index (BMI) and percent body fat (PBF) have been considered to be related to aging-induced changes in bone and muscle. This study aimed to evaluate the associations of the BMI and PBF with osteoporosis, sarcopenia, and osteosarcopenia in postmenopausal women. Methods: A total of 342 participants who underwent musculoskeletal function assessments at the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University between January 2015 and December 2022 were retrospectively screened. The diagnosis of osteoporosis was based on the WHO criteria, and sarcopenia was diagnosed according to the 2019 consensus of the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia. Results: The BMI was positively correlated with the musculoskeletal function assessment parameters (bone mineral density, relative skeletal muscle index, and grip strength) and identified as an independent protective factor for sarcopenia alone (OR = 0.592, 95% CI: 0.455-0.769) or osteosarcopenia (OR = 0.411, 95% CI: 0.319-0.529), with a moderate diagnostic accuracy (area under the curve [AUC] = 0.682) for the former and a high diagnostic accuracy (AUC = 0.823) for the latter. However, the PBF was negatively correlated with the relative skeletal muscle index and identified as a risk factor for osteosarcopenia (OR = 1.404, 95% CI: 1.007-1.959), with a moderate diagnostic accuracy (AUC = 0.613). Conclusions: A higher BMI and lower PBF were associated with a lower prevalence of osteosarcopenia in postmenopausal women. Further research is required to elucidate the independent effects of the BMI and PBF on bone health.