Early Metabolic Vulnerability and Frailty-Related Pathways in Young Adults
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.64784/072Palabras clave:
metabolic frailty, young adults, metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance, central obesity, sarcopenia, chronic inflammation, early chronic diseaseResumen
Metabolic frailty has traditionally been associated with older populations; however, accumulating evidence suggests that frailty-related metabolic alterations may emerge much earlier in the life course. This narrative review examines metabolic frailty in young adults as an early vulnerability state characterized by metabolic dysregulation, adverse body composition, chronic low-grade inflammation, and reduced physiological reserve, even in the absence of overt chronic disease. Drawing on international literature and integrating evidence relevant to Latin American contexts, particularly Mexico, Colombia, and Ecuador, this study synthesizes current knowledge on the biological and clinical pathways linking central adiposity, insulin resistance, sarcopenia-related changes, and cardiometabolic risk clustering to early frailty-related processes. The findings support the interpretation of metabolic frailty as a continuous, multidimensional construct that extends classical frailty frameworks beyond geriatric populations. Early identification of metabolic frailty using combined anthropometric, metabolic, and muscle-related indicators may provide a valuable opportunity to prevent or delay the onset of chronic noncommunicable diseases and preserve long-term functional capacity.
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