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American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 1999; 70; 405-11
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Aging, body composition, and lifestyle: the Fels Longitudinal Study.
Shumei S. Guo, Christine Ziller, William Cameron Chumlea, and Roger M. Siervogel.
Division of the Human Biology, Departments of Community Health and
Pediatrics, Wright State University School of Medicine, Yellow Springs,
Ohio.
Abstract; Background: Changes in body composition in men and women occur
with age, but these changes are affected by numerous covariate factors.
Objective: The study examined patterns of change in body composition and
determined the effects of long-term patterns of change in physical activity
in older men and women and in menopausal status and estrogen use in women.
Design: Serial measures of height, weight, body mass index (BMI), total
body fat (BF), percentage BF, and fat-free mass (FFM) from underwater
weighing of 102 men and 108 women enrolled in the Fels Longitudinal Study
were analyzed. Physical activity levels and menopausal status were included
as covariates.
Results: There were significant age-related decreases in FFM and height and
increases in total BF, percentage FB, weight, and BMI. Physical activity
was associated with decreases in total BF, percentage BF, weight, and BMI.
Physical activity was associated with decreases in total BF, percentage BF,
weight, and BMI in men were associated with increases in FFM and decreases
in total BF and percentage BF in women. Postmenopausal women had
significantly higher total BF and percentage BF than did pre- and
perimenopausal women. The longer the time since menopause the greater were
the increases in weight, BMI, total BF, and percentage BF; however, estrogen
use attenuated theses increases.
Conclusion: Low FFM can be improved by increased physical activity. The effects
of an intervention program on body composition can be masked if only body weight
or BMI is measured. The effects of physical activity were more profound in postmenopausal
than in premenopausal women, and estrogen use had beneficial effects on body composition. |
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