Relationships between leisure-time physical activity, obesity and disability in elderly men

Abstract

Our study shows that, in elderly men, leisure-time physical activity is inversely associated with body fat, BMI, and reported disability, but positively associated with appendicular fat-free mass. The highest prevalence of reported disability was observed in sedentary subjects with BMI higher than 25 kg/m2.

Sitting time increases the overweight and obesity risk independently of walking time in elderly people from Spain

“…Among seniors, a negative relationship between obesity and weekly walking has been shown. In fact, walking less than 30 min per day was associated with 2.7 greater probability of being obese and high-intensity exercise, such as brisk walking or gardening, was inversely correlated with body fat [7]. Moreover, previous findings of the elderly EXER-NET multi-center study displayed an inverse relationship between active lifestyle (walking-hours per day) and BMI and WC in both elderly men and women [2].…”

“…In elderly men, leisure-time physical activity is inversely associated with body fat and body mass index (BMI) [7]. And also for a given BMI category, participants with lower levels of physical activity are characterized by an increased waist circumference compared with active individuals.…”

Regular Vigorous Physical Activity and Disability Development in Healthy Overweight and Normal-Weight Seniors: A 13-Year Study

“…17 In older adults, investigators have compared physical activity with functional status, 18,19 body weight with functional status, 3,7,8 and overweight and obesity with physical activity 11,20 and have reported lower disability both in overweight and nonoverweight participants who were physically active. In cross-sectional studies of the association between leisure-time physical activity, obesity, and disability among aging men 21 and aging women, 22 the most disability was found among inactive participants.…”

Differential Genetic Advantages in Youth and in Aging, or How to Die Healthy

“…this seems to exert its beneficial effects on both components found to be associated with successful aging so far, i.e. the physical as well as the psychological status (23,50,52).…”