PURPOSE: This study aimed to identify potential risk factors for age-related loss of skeletal muscle mass (ALSMM) in young Korean women, who are highly engaged in their professional careers and often spend long hours seated in office environments.
METHODS: Data were obtained from a nationally representative cross-sectional sample comprising 3,520 community-dwelling women aged 18–39 years. Complex sample analyses were performed using individual sampling weights provided by the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) to account for its stratified, clustered, and multistage complex sampling design. Participants were screened for ALSMM, A comprehensive set of potential predictive indicators was examined, categorized into three domains: (1) somatometric isk factors, including age, height, weight, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), and skeletal muscle mass index (SMI); (2) biochemical and blood pressure risk factors, encompassing fasting glucose, triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol levels, and systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP, DBP); and (3) behavioral habits, including smoking and alcohol consumption status.
RESULTS: Height, weight, BMI, WC, SMI, fasting glucose, and SBP were identified as significant predictors of ALSMM (p < .05). Conversely, total cholesterol, TG, DBP, smoking status, and alcohol consumption were not significantly associated with ALSMM (p > .05). CONCLUSION: The present findings identify key clinical and metabolic risk factors for ALSMM in community-dwelling young Korean women, highlighting the early factors that contribute to muscle decline and the need for targeted monitoring and prevention. They also emphasize the importance of organizational policies and environmental interventions to reduce the risks associated with prolonged sitting in office settings.