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Body composition, energy expenditure and physical activity

Physical activity is associated with functional capacity of older women with osteosarcopenic obesity: 24-month prospective study

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 74, pages 912–919 (2020)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Background/Objectives

Physical activity (PA) could be effective in the prevention of functional disability in older women, especially for those with body composition abnormalities. The aim this study was to analyze the association of total PA and in different domains with physical function and functional capacity in older women with or without osteosarcopenic obesity (OSO), as well as to assess the risk of functional disability in osteosarcopenic obesity older women insufficiently active.

Subjects/Methods

The study included 152 Brazilian older women, aged 60 years and older. Body composition was measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and physical function by physical tests. Functional capacity and PA were self-reported.

Results

In older women without OSO, the practice of leisure-time exercise (β:−0.23; 95%CI −0.40 to −0.06) and total PA (β:−0.40; 95%CI −0.57 to −0.23) is inversely associated with dependence in ADL. In older women with OSO, the practice of leisure-time exercise was inversely associated with physical function (β:0.88; 95%CI 0.31–1.46) and functional capacity (β:−1.05; 95%CI 1.64 to −0.45), while total PA (β:−1.03; 95%CI −1.93 to −0.13) was inversely associated with functional capacity, independent of control variables. In addition, older women with OSO who remained insufficiently active in leisure-time exercise (HR:2.28; 95%CI 1.04–4.99) and locomotion (HR:2.62; 95%CI 1.28–5.36) domains presented risk for functional disability.

Conclusions

PA is inversely associated with physical function and functional capacity in older women with or without OSO, and older women with OSO who are insufficiently active in leisure-time exercise and locomotion domains presented a higher risk for functional disability.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior, Brazil for supporting the study through the award of a scholarship (VRS).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Skeletal Muscle Assessment Laboratory, LABSIM, Department of Physical Education, School of Technology and Sciences, São Paulo State University, UNESP, Presidente Prudente, Sao Paulo, Brazil

    Vanessa Ribeiro dos Santos & Luís Alberto Gobbo

  2. Post-Graduation Program in Movement Sciences, School of Technology and Sciences, Sao Paulo State University, UNESP, Presidente Prudente, Sao Paulo, Brazil

    Vanessa Ribeiro dos Santos & Luís Alberto Gobbo

Authors
  1. Vanessa Ribeiro dos Santos
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Contributions

V.R.S. concept and design of the study, data acquisition, data analysis, interpretation of analyses, preparation, and writing of the paper, and critical revision of the paper. L.A.G. concept and design of the study, interpretation of analyses, and critical revision of the paper.

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Correspondence to Luís Alberto Gobbo.

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dos Santos, V.R., Gobbo, L.A. Physical activity is associated with functional capacity of older women with osteosarcopenic obesity: 24-month prospective study. Eur J Clin Nutr 74, 912–919 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41430-019-0505-y

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