The Associations between Functional Fitness Test Performance and Abdominal Obesity in Healthy Elderly People: Results from the National Physical Fitness Examination Survey in Taiwan

Hsin-Han Chen; Hui-Ling Chen; Yi-Tien Lin; Chaou-Wen Lin; Chien-Chang Ho; Hsueh-Yi Lin; Po-Fu Lee

doi:10.3390/ijerph18010264

The Associations between Functional Fitness Test Performance and Abdominal Obesity in Healthy Elderly People: Results from the National Physical Fitness Examination Survey in Taiwan

Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020 Dec 31;18(1):264. doi: 10.3390/ijerph18010264.

Authors

Hsin-Han Chen¹, Hui-Ling Chen², Yi-Tien Lin³, Chaou-Wen Lin⁴, Chien-Chang Ho^{5

6

7}, Hsueh-Yi Lin⁸, Po-Fu Lee^{5

6

7

9}

Affiliations

¹ Graduate Institute of Technological and Vocational Education, National Taipei University of Technology, Taipei City 106, Taiwan.
² Graduate Institute of Educational Leadership and Development, Fu Jen Catholic University, New Taipei City 242, Taiwan.
³ Graduate Institute of Business Administration, Fu Jen Catholic University, New Taipei City 242, Taiwan.
⁴ Department of Marine Leisure and Tourism, Taipei University of Marine Technology, Taipei City 111, Taiwan.
⁵ Department of Physical Education, Fu Jen Catholic University, New Taipei City 242, Taiwan.
⁶ Research and Development Center for Physical Education, Health, and Information Technology, College of Education, Fu Jen Catholic University, New Taipei City 242, Taiwan.
⁷ Office of Physical Education, Fu Jen Catholic University, New Taipei City 242, Taiwan.
⁸ Department of Leisure Industry and Health Promotion, National Ilan University, Ilan County 260007, Taiwan.
⁹ Graduate Institute of Sport Coaching Science, Chinese Culture University, Taipei City 111, Taiwan.

Abstract

The relationships between different functional fitness performance and abdominal obesity among the elderly have not been widely discussed in the literature. The present study aimed to investigate the associations between functional fitness test performance and abdominal obesity in Taiwanese elderly people. A total of 22,399 items of data from the National Physical Fitness Survey Databases in Taiwan (NPFSD 2014-15) were reviewed and analyzed. The quartiles of functional fitness test results were identified as the dependent variable in the multiple linear regression analysis to examine the association between functional fitness and abdominal obesity status. The results showed that body balance (odds ratios (ORs) listed from 1.18 to 2.29, p < 0.05) and flexibility (ORs listed from 1.23 to 2.16, p < 0.05) were critically associated with abdominal obesity. However, measurements related to muscle strength revealed the limited effect sizes for abdominal obesity. From a disability prevention perspective, the development of muscle strength in the elderly should be emphasized and encouraged to maintain their daily capabilities instead of satisfaction with a lean body.

Keywords: abdominal obesity; functional capability; independent ability; success aging.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Body Mass Index
Cross-Sectional Studies
Exercise Test
Female
Health Status
Humans
Male
Muscle Strength*
Obesity, Abdominal* / epidemiology
Physical Fitness*
Taiwan / epidemiology