Abstract
The relationship between aging and perception of health and quality of life is complex and its mediation mechanisms need to be further explored. The purpose of this study was to investigate the mediating effects of total energy expenditure and intake, body mass, and body image dissatisfaction on the relationship between age and perception of health and quality of life. Forty-two senior athletes, 55 physically active, and 61 sedentary individuals (aged 55–84 years) were evaluated for total energy expenditure (EE), energy intake (EI), body mass index (BMI), absolute Body Dissatisfaction Index (BDIabx), and physical (PCS) and mental (MCS) health and quality of life perception. Multiple mediation analyses were applied to assess the relationship between age and PCS and MCS indices, through the mediators EE, EI, BMI, and BDIabx. For MCS, but not for PSC, the mediation analysis showed: (a) a direct effect of age; (b) a mediation path through EE, EI, BMI, and BDIabx; and (c) a positive total effect. The combination of positive and negative mediating effects influencing the mental health perception underlined that with advancing age, the maintenance of high levels of energy expenditure through physical activity could positively impact body image satisfaction and, in turn, mental health.
Highlights
Energy balance and active lifestyle became an imperative target for both researchers and practitioners in the modern society
Main effects were found for physical activity level in respect to body mass index (BMI)
As indicated by the bootstrapping output, a serial indirect effect path existed, including total energy expenditure, energy intake, BMI, and BDIabx, as the 95% CI of bootstrap estimates of the indirect effect did not include the zero value (−0.003, Bootstrap 95% CI = −0.011; −0.0002)
Summary
Energy balance and active lifestyle became an imperative target for both researchers and practitioners in the modern society. Inadequate level of physical activity, and extensive periods of sedentary time are the triad risk factors for major non-communicable disease [1]. They have been extensively summarized for their evidence and eminence over the life course [2]. Driven by overweight pandemics, physical activity promotion has entered the agenda of supranational policies as a way to increase energy expenditure and ensure a calorie-in/calorie-out balance [3]. Considering the increase in life expectancy in developed countries, the promotion of a physically active and healthy lifestyle is of particular relevance with advancing age [4]. Healthy aging has been defined as “the process of developing and maintaining the functional ability that enables well-being in older
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