How to Tell if Someone Is Malnourished or Sarcopenic — Not Just Thin

 

Being thin does not always mean a person is malnourished or has sarcopenia. Sarcopenia is specifically the loss of muscle strength and function, not just low body weight. A simple way to tell the difference is by asking these functional questions:

1. Can they walk independently across a room without assistance?

2. Can they lift and carry a 4 kg weight without difficulty?

3. Can they climb 10 stairs without issue?

4. Can they rise from a chair or transfer from a chair to bed on their own?

5. Have they experienced a fall in the past year?

 

How to Interpret the Answers

• If the answer to the first four questions is “no”, and

• The answer to the last question is “yes”,

👉 Then the person is very likely experiencing malnutrition and sarcopenia, rather than simply being thin.

 

Why This Matters

Early identification allows for interventions such as:

• Improving nutrition (especially protein intake)

• Starting strength and balance exercises

• Preventing further muscle loss and reducing fall risk

This can make the difference between healthy aging and a decline in independence and quality of life.

 

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Source:

1. Malmstrom TK, Morley JE. "SARC-F: a simple questionnaire to rapidly diagnose sarcopenia." Journal of the American Medical Directors Association. 2013 Aug 1;14(8):531-2.

2. Malmstrom TK, Miller DK, Simonsick EM, Ferrucci L, Morley JE. "SARC-F: a symptom score to predict persons with sarcopenia at risk for poor functional outcomes." Journal of cachexia, sarcopenia and muscle. 2016 Mar;7(1):28-36.