Background Lifestyle behaviors are modifiable factors that can provide information for designing intervention strategies for sarcopenia. The present study aimed to identify the relationships between a range of daily lifestyle behaviors and sarcopenia risks among older adults. Methods A nationwide telephone-based survey targeting older adults (≥65 years) was performed in Taiwan. Data based on self-reported daily lifestyle behaviors (food selection, physical activity, sitting time, and sleep duration), the presence or absence of sarcopenia (measured by SARC-F), and personal characteristics were obtained. Binary logistic regression models were applied. Results A total of 1068 older adults participated in this survey. In the adjusted model, older adults who selected unbalanced foods (odds ratio [OR] = 1.93, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.12–3.34), engaged in insufficient physical activity (OR = 5.14, 95% CI = 3.04–8.70), and sat for longer periods of time (OR = 1.98, 95% CI = 1.09–3.59) were more likely to have higher risks of sarcopenia. No significant association was observed for sleep duration. Conclusions The results of this study highlight that, among health behaviors, an unbalanced food selection (six nutrients), not meeting physical activity recommendations (150 min/week), and a higher sitting time (≥7 h/day) were risk factors for sarcopenia among older adults. Intervention programs for sarcopenia prevention in older adults should focus on promoting balanced food selection, sufficient physical activity, and reduced sitting time.

This study aimed to investigate the associations between Walk Score® and lifestyle behaviors and health outcomes in older Taiwanese adults. A nationwide survey was conducted through telephone-based interviews with older adults (65 years and older) in Taiwan. Data on Walk Score®, lifestyle behaviors (physical activity, sedentary behavior, healthy eating behavior, alcohol use, and smoking status), health outcomes (overweight/obesity, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease), and personal characteristics were obtained from 1052 respondents. A binary logistic regression adjusting for potential confounders was employed. None of the Walk Score® categories were related to the recommended levels of total physical activity. The categories “very walkable” and “walker’s paradise” were positively related to total sedentary time and TV viewing among older adults. No significant associations were found between Walk Score® and other lifestyle health behaviors or health outcomes. While Walk Score® was not associated with recommended levels of physical activity, it was positively related to prolonged sedentary time in the context of a non-Western country. The different associations between the walk score and health lifestyle behaviors and health outcomes in different contexts should be noted.

The aim of this research was to investigate the relationships between objectively measured sleep duration and physical function in older adults. Methods: We recruited community-dwelling older adults aged ≥ 60 years old in Taipei City, Taiwan. Sleep duration was measured with accelerometers and recorded as the total hours of sleep per night for each participant. The following physical functions were assessed: 1) grip strength (measured by handgrip dynamometer), 2) balance (1-leg standing test), 3) lower body strength (5-timed chair stand), 4) basic mobility (timed up and go test), 5) gait speed (5-m walk test). The relationships between sleep duration and physical function outcomes were analyzed using generalized additive models, controlling for objectively measured sedentary behavior and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, and other sociodemographic variables. Results: A total of 121 older adults (men = 28.9%; mean age = 70.0 ± 5.0 years) was included in this study. A positive association of sleep duration with grip strength was found after adjusting for covariates (P = .005). No significant associations were observed between sleep duration and the other physical function outcomes. Conclusions: For older adults, lengthening their sleep duration may be helpful to enhance the grip strength. This result has implications for improving their health by targeting better performance in specific physical functions. Further studies of sleep duration and physical function among older adults should investigate the underlying mechanisms.