The Associations between Functional Fitness Test Performance and Abdominal Obesity in Healthy Elderly People: Results from the National Physical Fitness Examination Survey in Taiwan

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Abstract

The relationships between different functional fitness performance and abdominal obesity among the elderly have not been widely discussed in the literature. The present study aimed to investigate the associations between functional fitness test performance and abdominal obesity in Taiwanese elderly people. A total of 22,399 items of data from the National Physical Fitness Survey Databases in Taiwan (NPFSD 2014-15) were reviewed and analyzed. The quartiles of functional fitness test results were identified as the dependent variable in the multiple linear regression analysis to examine the association between functional fitness and abdominal obesity status. The results showed that body balance (odds ratios (ORs) listed from 1.18 to 2.29, p < 0.05) and flexibility (ORs listed from 1.23 to 2.16, p < 0.05) were critically associated with abdominal obesity. However, measurements related to muscle strength revealed the limited effect sizes for abdominal obesity. From a disability prevention perspective, the development of muscle strength in the elderly should be emphasized and encouraged to maintain their daily capabilities instead of satisfaction with a lean body.

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Abdominal obesity and metabolic syndrome.

Jean-Pierre Després, Isabelle Lemieux (2006)

Metabolic syndrome is associated with abdominal obesity, blood lipid disorders, inflammation, insulin resistance or full-blown diabetes, and increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease. Proposed criteria for identifying patients with metabolic syndrome have contributed greatly to preventive medicine, but the value of metabolic syndrome as a scientific concept remains controversial. The presence of metabolic syndrome alone cannot predict global cardiovascular disease risk. But abdominal obesity - the most prevalent manifestation of metabolic syndrome - is a marker of 'dysfunctional adipose tissue', and is of central importance in clinical diagnosis. Better risk assessment algorithms are needed to quantify diabetes and cardiovascular disease risk on a global scale.

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Development and validation of criterion-referenced clinically relevant fitness standards for maintaining physical independence in later years.

R. E. Rikli, C. J. Jones (2013)

To develop and validate criterion-referenced fitness standards for older adults that predict the level of capacity needed for maintaining physical independence into later life. The proposed standards were developed for use with a previously validated test battery for older adults-the Senior Fitness Test (Rikli, R. E., & Jones, C. J. (2001). Development and validation of a functional fitness test for community--residing older adults. Journal of Aging and Physical Activity, 6, 127-159; Rikli, R. E., & Jones, C. J. (1999a). Senior fitness test manual. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics.). A criterion measure to assess physical independence was identified. Next, scores from a subset of 2,140 "moderate-functioning" older adults from a larger cross-sectional database, together with findings from longitudinal research on physical capacity and aging, were used as the basis for proposing fitness standards (performance cut points) associated with having the ability to function independently. Validity and reliability analyses were conducted to test the standards for their accuracy and consistency as predictors of physical independence. Performance standards are presented for men and women ages 60-94 indicating the level of fitness associated with remaining physically independent until late in life. Reliability and validity indicators for the standards ranged between .79 and .97. The proposed standards provide easy-to-use, previously unavailable methods for evaluating physical capacity in older adults relative to that associated with physical independence. Most importantly, the standards can be used in planning interventions that target specific areas of weakness, thus reducing risk for premature loss of mobility and independence.

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Physical activity and functional limitations in older adults: a systematic review related to Canada's Physical Activity Guidelines

Donald Paterson, Darren ER Warburton (2010)

Background The purpose was to conduct systematic reviews of the relationship between physical activity of healthy community-dwelling older (>65 years) adults and outcomes of functional limitations, disability, or loss of independence. Methods Prospective cohort studies with an outcome related to functional independence or to cognitive function were searched, as well as exercise training interventions that reported a functional outcome. Electronic database search strategies were used to identify citations which were screened (title and abstract) for inclusion. Included articles were reviewed to complete standardized data extraction tables, and assess study quality. An established system of assessing the level and grade of evidence for recommendations was employed. Results Sixty-six studies met inclusion criteria for the relationship between physical activity and functional independence, and 34 were included with a cognitive function outcome. Greater physical activity of an aerobic nature (categorized by a variety of methods) was associated with higher functional status (expressed by a host of outcome measures) in older age. For functional independence, moderate (and high) levels of physical activity appeared effective in conferring a reduced risk (odds ratio ~0.5) of functional limitations or disability. Limitation in higher level performance outcomes was reduced (odds ratio ~0.5) with vigorous (or high) activity with an apparent dose-response of moderate through to high activity. Exercise training interventions (including aerobic and resistance) of older adults showed improvement in physiological and functional measures, and suggestion of longer-term reduction in incidence of mobility disability. A relatively high level of physical activity was related to better cognitive function and reduced risk of developing dementia; however, there were mixed results of the effects of exercise interventions on cognitive function indices. Conclusions There is a consistency of findings across studies and a range of outcome measures related to functional independence; regular aerobic activity and short-term exercise programmes confer a reduced risk of functional limitations and disability in older age. Although a precise characterization of a minimal or effective physical activity dose to maintain functional independence is difficult, it appears moderate to higher levels of activity are effective and there may be a threshold of at least moderate activity for significant outcomes.

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Author and article information

Journal

Journal ID (nlm-ta): Int J Environ Res Public Health

Journal ID (iso-abbrev): Int J Environ Res Public Health

Journal ID (publisher-id): ijerph

Title: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health

Publisher: MDPI

ISSN (Print): 1661-7827

ISSN (Electronic): 1660-4601

Publication date (Electronic): 31 December 2020

Publication date (Print): January 2021

Volume: 18

Issue: 1

Electronic Location Identifier: 264

Affiliations

[1 ]Graduate Institute of Technological and Vocational Education, National Taipei University of Technology, Taipei City 106, Taiwan; viva71215@ 123456gmail.com

[2 ]Graduate Institute of Educational Leadership and Development, Fu Jen Catholic University, New Taipei City 242, Taiwan; 024145@ 123456mail.fju.edu.tw

[3 ]Graduate Institute of Business Administration, Fu Jen Catholic University, New Taipei City 242, Taiwan; D00014@ 123456mail.fjuh.fju.edu.tw

[4 ]Department of Marine Leisure and Tourism, Taipei University of Marine Technology, Taipei City 111, Taiwan; mikelin319@ 123456mail.tumt.edu.tw

[5 ]Department of Physical Education, Fu Jen Catholic University, New Taipei City 242, Taiwan; 093703@ 123456mail.fju.edu.tw

[6 ]Research and Development Center for Physical Education, Health, and Information Technology, College of Education, Fu Jen Catholic University, New Taipei City 242, Taiwan

[7 ]Office of Physical Education, Fu Jen Catholic University, New Taipei City 242, Taiwan

[8 ]Department of Leisure Industry and Health Promotion, National Ilan University, Ilan County 260007, Taiwan; hilin@ 123456niu.edu.tw

[9 ]Graduate Institute of Sport Coaching Science, Chinese Culture University, Taipei City 111, Taiwan

Author notes

[* ]Correspondence: f520184fred@ 123456yahoo.com.tw ; Tel.: +886-2-29053291

Author information

Chien-Chang Ho https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1283-5203

Po-Fu Lee https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8301-9935

Article

Publisher ID: ijerph-18-00264

DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18010264

PMC ID: 7796088

PubMed ID: 33396485

SO-VID: b65340b8-f02e-409a-868e-cf279e47ef74

License:

Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license ( http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).

History

Date received : 01 December 2020

Date accepted : 28 December 2020

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The Associations between Functional Fitness Test Performance and Abdominal Obesity in Healthy Elderly People: Results from the National Physical Fitness Examination Survey in Taiwan

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Most cited references 48

Abdominal obesity and metabolic syndrome.

Development and validation of criterion-referenced clinically relevant fitness standards for maintaining physical independence in later years.

Physical activity and functional limitations in older adults: a systematic review related to Canada's Physical Activity Guidelines

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