Abstract
Background: Sarcopenia and obesity are age-related conditions associated with dietary habits. However, the 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 6202 patients at baseline and their changes over a 16-year follow-up period. Results: A 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 the incidence of obesity but increased that of sarcopenia in adults aged <65 years. However, in adults aged ≥65 years, slow eating speeds increased the incidence of sarcopenia but did not reduce the incidence of obesity.