A Study on the Development of a Fitness Age Prediction Model: The National Fitness Award Cohort Study 2017-2021

Abstract

Background Physical fitness is considered an important indicator of the health of the general public, and in particular, the physical fitness of the elderly people is an important criterion for determining the possibility of independent living. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine the association between chronological age and physical fitness variables in the National Fitness Award Cohort study data and to develop multiple linear regression analyses to predict fitness age using dependent variables. Methods Data from 501,774 (359,303 adults, 142,471 elderly) individuals who participated in the Korea National Fitness Award Cohort Study from 2017 to 2021 were collected. The physical fitness tests consisted of 5 candidate markers for adults and 6 candidate markers for the elderly adults to measure muscle strength, muscle endurance, cardiopulmonary endurance, flexibility, balance, and agility. Pearson’s correlation and stepwise regression analyses were used to analyze the data. Results We obtained a predicted individual fitness age values from physical fitness indicators for adults and elderly individuals, and the mean explanatory power of the fitness age for adults was [100.882 – (.029 × VO2max) – (1.171 × Relative HGS) – (.032 × Sit-up) + (.769 × Gender Male = 1; Female = 2) + (.769 × Gender = 2)] was 93.6% (adjusted R2); additionally, the fitness age for elderly individuals was [79.807 – (.017 × 2-minute step test) – (.203 × 30-second chair stand) – (.031 × 30-second chair stand) – (.052 × TUG) + (.985 × TUG) – (3.468 × Gender Male = 1; Female = 2)] was 24.3% (adjusted R2). Conclusions We suggest the use of fitness age as a valid indicator of fitness in adults and the elderly individuals as well as a useful motivational tool for undertaking exercise prescription programs along with exercise recommendations at the national level.