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Revista de la Facultad de Medicina

Print version ISSN 0120-0011

Abstract

VALDES-BADILLA, Pablo et al. Changes in anthropometric parameters and physical fitness in older adults after participating in a 16-week physical activity program. rev.fac.med. [online]. 2020, vol.68, n.3, pp.375-382.  Epub Nov 23, 2020. ISSN 0120-0011.  https://doi.org/10.15446/revfacmed.v68n3.75817.

Introduction:

Physical activity is important for achieving healthy aging.

Objective:

To analyze changes in anthropometric parameters and physical fitness among Chilean older adults after participating in a 16-week physical activity program and to evaluate whether there were differences in relation to their baseline nutritional status or not.

Materials and methods:

Pre-experimental quantitative study. The study population consisted of 176 older adults (155 women and 21 men) distributed in three groups: normal weight (n = 56), overweight (n=67) and obese (n = 53). The following variables were evaluated: body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), waist-to-height ratio (WHR) and physical fitness.

Results:

Significant decreases between pre- and post-measurements were found for WC (p<0.001), BMI (p=0.015), and WHR (p<0.001). Improvements were observed in the following tests: chair stand (p<0.001), arm curl (p<0.001), 2-min step (p<0.001), chair sit-&-reach (p=0.018) and back scratch (p=0.014). Regarding BMI, significant changes were observed between normal weight vs. overweight participants (p=0.001) and between normal weight vs. obese participants (p=0.001).

Conclusion:

Older adult participants that regularly attended the physical activity program were able to reduce their WC, BMI and WHR, and also improved their physical-functional performance on the chair stand, arm curl, 2-min step, chair sit-&-reach and back scratch tests. In addition, anthropometric parameters and physical fitness also improved regardless of their baseline nutritional status.

Keywords : Exercise; Anthropometry; Physical Fitness; Aging; Public Health (MeSH).

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