Age- and sex-specific FM/FFM percentile curves from the Canadian CLSA
Using Canadian CLSA data from 28,791 adults, researchers built age- and sex-specific percentile curves for the fat mass to fat-free mass ratio (FM/FFM), an integrated measure of sarcopenic obesity, and described how the percentiles differ by age and sex. [1]
Automatic summary · not editorially reviewed
The key findings
FM/FFM was calculated from DXA-measured total body fat mass and total body lean mass in 28,791 CLSA participants. [1]
Weighted age- and sex-specific percentile curves were plotted for ages 45 to 86 years, separately for males and females. [1]
At the 50th percentile, the maximum FM/FFM was 0.42 at age 86 for males and 0.71 at age 68 for females. [1]
The source at a glance
- Study type / format
- Abstract of a study developing percentile curves from cohort baseline data
- Population / context
- 28,791 participants in the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging, mean baseline age 59.6 ± 10.2 years, 47.4% male.
- Summary based on
- Study abstract
- Original publication
- October 1, 2026
CLSA adults and the FM/FFM measure
The study used data from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA) with 28,791 participants. FM/FFM was calculated as total body fat mass in kilograms divided by total body lean mass in kilograms, measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). The authors describe FM/FFM as an integrated measure of sarcopenic obesity that may give more useful information than looking at sarcopenia and obesity separately. Mean age at baseline was 59.6 ± 10.2 years, and 47.4% were male.
Supporting source [1]
Percentile patterns by age and sex
Weighted percentile curves for the 1st, 5th, 25th, 50th, 75th, 95th and 99th percentiles were plotted with age from 45 to 86 years on the x-axis and FM/FFM on the y-axis, separately for males and females. For men, FM/FFM percentiles appeared to rise slowly with age and then stabilise after age 70. For women, percentiles appeared to start higher and rise more rapidly with age, stabilising but then showing a stronger downward trend than in men after age 65. At the 50th percentile, the maximum FM/FFM value was 0.42 at age 86 for males and 0.71 at age 68 for females.
Supporting source [1]
Proposed use of the FM/FFM curves
The authors conclude that the study highlights important age- and sex-related differences in FM/FFM percentiles in older adults. They suggest the FM/FFM curves could be used as a tool for identifying older adults with sarcopenic obesity and for examining health risks associated with sarcopenic obesity. These are proposed uses; the abstract does not report testing the curves for diagnosis or risk prediction.
Supporting source [1]
How to interpret this
This is an abstract; the full text was not reviewed. The abstract reports a cross-sectional description of percentile curves from CLSA baseline data and does not report follow-up, diagnostic accuracy or causal findings. The proposed uses for identifying sarcopenic obesity and examining health risks are suggestions, not validated applications.
Based on the study abstract; the full paper, tables and supplementary data were not reviewed.
Source & supporting passages
Kim C, Cook CE, Banack HR. · europepmc.org · October 1, 2026