Abstract
Studies have indicated that sufficient physical activity levels and balanced dietary behavior are independently related to physical function in older populations; however, their joint association with physical function remain unclear. This study examined the independent and combined associations of sufficient physical activity and balanced selection of foods with lower limb strength among 122 older Taiwanese adults living in community (mean age: 69.9 ± 5.0 years). The assessments included accelerometer-measured moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and self-reported selection of foods. Lower limb strength performance was measured using the five times sit-to-stand test. Binary logistic regression analyses were performed to estimate the associations in question before and after adjusting for potential confounders. The results showed that in the adjusted model, lower limb strength had no significant independent association with either meeting the recommended level of MVPA or balanced selection of foods. Compared to older adults who neither met the recommended MVPA level nor reported a balanced selection of foods, those who conformed to both these criteria were more likely to have better lower limb strength (odds ratio = 6.28, 95% confidence interval = 1.36–29.01) after adjusting for covariates. Health promotion initiatives addressing disability prevention for older adults need to consider promoting both MVPA and food selection.
Highlights
Owing to prominent advances in healthcare, the average life expectancy of the global population has been on the rise, and aging is a global trend [1]
This study was aimed at gaining an understanding of the independent and joint associations of sufficient physical activity levels and balanced dietary behavior with older adults’ lower limb strength
Older adults who engaged in the recommended level of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and reported a balanced selection of foods exhibited six times better lower limb strength than those who neither met the recommended level of MVPA nor followed a balanced selection of foods
Summary
Owing to prominent advances in healthcare, the average life expectancy of the global population has been on the rise, and aging is a global trend [1]. Geriatric syndromes include functional decline, delirium, frailty, sarcopenia, pressure ulcers, and urinary incontinence are being increasingly prioritized in preventive healthcare [3], and with good reason; they are associated with adverse health outcomes including falls, institutionalization, disability, or even death among older adults [4,5]. Studies have shown a number of proximity indicators of deficiencies in functional physical performance (e.g., lower levels of hemoglobin and antioxidant capacity) and lower levels of lower limb strength that are related to age and increased presence of signs of frailty [7,8,9]. Studies have indicated that better lower limb strength is associated with better quality of life [10] and lower risks of disability [11], falls [12], and type 2 diabetes [13]. It is crucial to identify influential factors, especially modifiable lifestyle behaviors, and develop effective strategies to shield older adults from frailty
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