Abstract
Abstract Introduction: Aging leads to sarcopenia and functional capacity decline, compromising upper (UL) and lower limb (LL) performance of activities. Body mass index (BMI) is an important parameter for the assessment of health conditions in older adults, especially with regard to obesity, since it leads to functional limitations in terms of mobility and task performance. Objective: To investigate the potential association between UL and LL functionality and BMI in physically active older adults; and to characterize this population with regard to BMI and UL and LL functionality. Methods: The data were collected between August 2013 and April 2014. The sample comprised 371 physically active older adults. This study used secondary data from the program “PET Saúde IPA/SMS”. The program interviewed older adults living in areas comprised by the Third Family Health Unit of a neighborhood in Porto Alegre/RS. This paper used questions from the “Instrumento de Avaliação Multidimensional Rápida da Pessoa Idosa” (Instrument for Rapid Multidimensional Assessment of Elderly People, in English) that had to do with UL and LL functionality, weight, height and BMI. Results and Conclusion: There was no association between UL and LL functionality and BMI in physically active older adults. More than half of the sample was overweight. Most participants had functional UL and LL. While occupation, self-perception of health as “good” and “very good”, and physical activity were found to be associated with LL functionality; regular physical exercise was found to be associated with UL and LL functionality.
Highlights
Aging leads to sarcopenia and functional capacity decline, compromising upper (UL) and lower limb (LL) performance of activities
Self-perception of health as “good” and “very good”, and physical activity were found to be associated with LL functionality; regular physical exercise was found to be associated with UL and LL functionality
This study found that UL and LL functionality was not associated with Body mass index (BMI) of physically active older adults
Summary
Aging leads to sarcopenia and functional capacity decline, compromising upper (UL) and lower limb (LL) performance of activities. According to the last demographic census of the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE), there are 23.5 million older adults (people aged 60 years or older, as defined by the World Health Organization [WHO]) in Brazil. This is more than double the amount registered in 1991, when there were 10.7 million older adults. The Brazilian Census predicted that, by 2025, Brazil will have the sixth oldest population in the world, with a predominance of women (55%) among the older population [1] These changes in the demographic pattern of the country have occurred ever since the sixties of last century, when fertility and child mortality rates started to fall [2, 3]. It serves as a benchmark for actions, policies and programs, which will be will be even more effective if they correspond to a person's perceived needs [4, 5]
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