Correlation of Handgrip Strength with Somatometric Measurements among Adults with Sarcopenic Obesity in Gujarat, India: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Sarcopenic obesity (SO), characterized by the coexistence of excess adiposity and reduced skeletal muscle mass, is associated with adverse cardiometabolic outcomes. Handgrip strength (HGS) is a practical indicator of muscle function; however, its relationship with body composition and anthropometric indices in Indian early adults with SO remains underexplored. The objective was to investigate the correlations between HGS and body composition and anthropometric parameters among early-adult males and females with SO. Methods: This cross-sectional analytical study included 216 participants aged 18-49 years from a university in Gujarat, India. Body composition was assessed using bioelectrical impedance analysis, while waist and hip circumferences were measured to calculate waist-hip ratio (WHR) and waist-height ratio (WHtR). HGS was measured bilaterally using a hand-held dynamometer. Spearman’s rank correlation assessed associations among 41 males and 51 females classified as having SO. Results: Among participants with SO, right-hand HGS was inversely correlated with body fat percentage in males (ρ = -0.47, p = 0.002) and WHtR (ρ = -0.34, p = 0.03). Left-hand HGS was also inversely correlated with body fat percentage in males (ρ = -0.35, p = 0.02). In females, HGS of both hands was inversely correlated with WHR (ρ = -0.32, p = 0.01). After Bonferroni correction, only the association between right-hand HGS and body fat percentage in males remained statistically significant. Conclusion: HGS demonstrated sex-specific associations with adiposity and anthropometric indices. Further longitudinal studies are needed to establish its clinical utility in early-adult SO assessment.