Effect of Eating Speed on Sarcopenia, Obesity, and Sarcopenic Obesity in Older Adults: A 16-Year Cohort Study Using the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study (KoGES) Data

Background Sarcopenia and obesity are age-related conditions associated with dietary habits. However, relationship between eating speed and sarcopenia, particularly in older adults >65 years of age remains unclear. Methods To investigate the effect of eating speed on the occurrence of sarcopenia, obesity, and sarcopenic obesity. We examined eating speed, socioeconomic factors, and disease history of 6,202 patients at baseline and their changes over a 16-year follow-up period. Results Fast eating speed was significantly associated with a higher risk of developing sarcopenia (normal eating: HR 1.284, 95% CI 1.107-1.490; slow eating: HR 1.583, 95% CI 1.279-1.958). Slower eating was associated with a reduced risk of obesity (normal eating: HR 0.865, 95% CI 0.786-0.952; slow eating: HR 0.680, 95% CI 0.577-0.802). These trends were consistent among participants aged <65 years. Among participants aged ≥65 years, fast eating was associated with a higher incidence of sarcopenia (HR 1.603, 95% CI 1.119-2.298), but no significant relationship existed with obesity (normal eating: HR 0.846, 95% CI 0.623-1.150; slow eating: HR 0.792, 95% CI 0.537-1.168). Conclusions Slow eating speed decreased obesity incidence but increased sarcopenia incidence in aged <65 years. However, in age ≥65 years, slow eating speed increased sarcopenia incidence, but did not reduce obesity incidence. Trial registration This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of Pusan National University Yangsan Hospital (approval number: 05-2023-084). Clinical trial number: not applicable.