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Multicenter Study
. 2010 Feb;58(2):219-26.
doi: 10.1111/j.1532-5415.2009.02681.x.

Association between fitness and changes in body composition and muscle strength

Annemarie Koster  1 , Marjolein Visser, Eleanor M Simonsick, Binging Yu, David B Allison, Anne B Newman, Jacques Th M van Eijk, Ann V Schwartz, Suzanne Satterfield, Tamara B Harris; Health, Aging and Body Composition Study
Affiliations
Multicenter Study

Association between fitness and changes in body composition and muscle strength

Annemarie Koster et al. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2010 Feb.

Abstract

Objectives: To examine the association between physical fitness, assessed according to ability and time to complete a 400-m walk, on changes in body composition and muscle strength over a 7-year period.

Design: Prospective observational cohort study.

Setting: Memphis, Tennessee, and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Participants: Two thousand nine hundred forty-nine black and white men and women aged 70 to 79 participating in the Health, Aging and Body Composition Study.

Measurements: Body composition (fat and bone-free lean mass) was assessed using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry in Years 1 to 6 and 8. Knee extension strength was measured using isokinetic dynamometry and grip strength using isometric dynamometry in Years 1, 2, 4, 6, and 8.

Results: Less fit people weighed more and had a higher total percentage of fat and a lower total percentage of lean mass than very fit men and women at baseline (P<.001). Additionally, the least fit lost significantly more weight, fat mass, and lean mass over time than the very fit (all P<.01). Very fit people had the highest grip strength and knee extensor strength at baseline and follow-up; decline in muscle strength was similar in every fitness group.

Conclusion: Low fitness in old age was associated with greater weight loss and loss of lean mass than with high fitness. Despite having lower muscle strength, the rate of decline in the least fit persons was similar to that in the most fit. In clinical practice, a long-distance walk test as a measure of fitness might be useful to identify people at risk for these adverse health outcomes.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Longitudinal course of weight, fat mass, and lean mass according to fitness level * Adjusted for age, race, site, age, race*age, and site*age Figure legend: formula image Very fit formula image Moderately fit formula image Somewhat fit formula image Least fit
Figure 2
Figure 2
Longitudinal course of grip strength and knee extensor strength according to fitness level * Adjusted for age, race, site, age, race*age, and site*age Figure legend: formula image Very fit formula image Moderately fit formula image Somewhat fit formula image Least fit
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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References

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