Relationship between anthropometric nutritional status and functional capacity in older adults living in the community.

Resumen

Background: The functional fitness of older people may be associated with their nutritional status. Aim: To assess the association between of anthropometric measures with functional fitness in older people. Material and methods: Cross-sectional study conducted in 75 participants aged 65 to 89 years. Body mass index (BMI), waist-to-height ratio (WHtR), fat mass (FM) and skeletal muscle mass index (SMI) were calculated from anthropometric measures. The was determined using the Senior Fitness Test battery. Results: BMI and FM indicated obesity, and WHtR indicated cardiometabolic risk in 49%, 55% and 83% of participants respectively. SMI indicated a low muscle mass in 91% of females. Performance standards of chair stand, arm curl, 2-min step test and 8-foot up-and-go tests were met in 1%, 8%, 1% and 89% of participants respectively. Significant negative correlations were found between 2-min step test and BMI, WHtR and FM (r= -0.26, -0.31 and -0.48 respectively). Back scratch had a negative correlation with BMI (r=-0.23) and SMI (rho=-0.28). Significant positive correlations were found between 8-foot up-and-go, WHtR (rho=0.28) and FM (rho=0.23), and between 2-min step test and SMI (rho=0.28). The R² between 2-min step test with BMI, WHtR and FM were 0.05, 0.08 and 0.22 respectively, while the R² between back scratch and BMI was 0.04. Multiple regression models indicated that FM affected the 2-min step test independently of BMI and WHtR (adjusted R²=0.22), however age and sex negatively influenced these associations. Conclusions: Functional fitness of older adults is influenced by nutritional anthropometric measures, particularly BMI, WHtR and FM for aerobic capacity, and BMI for upper limb flexibility.