Sarcopenic obesity is a clinical state in which the co - existence of obesity and sarcopenia. In the co - existence of sarcopenia and obesity the lean body mass is unbalanced with the fat content. Which is associated with adverse clinical outcomes. Both sarcopenia and obesity have independent adverse effects on health and the synergistic effect of both leads to increased metabolic disorders making the health problems brought by sarcopenia obesity far more serious than that of sarcopenia or obesity alone. Early and effective intervention measures can prevent treat and delay the progression of sarcopenic obesity. Therefore early screening diagnosis and treatment are particularly important. The treatment measures for sarcopenic obesity mainly include nutrition and exercise intervention and new drug therapy or intestinal flora therapy also have a certain effect on sarcopenic obesity. In recent years research on sarcopenic obesity has made certain progress. The European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism and the European Association for Obesity Research have published diagnostic criteria to clarify their diagnosis for the first time the pathogenesis of sarcopenic obesity and the complex interaction between metabolic disorders and inflammation have been further revealed but there is still no specific treatment for sarcopenic obesity. This paper reviews the diagnostic criteria molecular mechanisms and treatment progress of sarcopenic obesity providing reference for the prevention treatment and clinical research of sarcopenic obesity.