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 and Po-Fu Lee
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Hsin-Han Chen: Graduate Institute of Technological and Vocational Education, National Taipei University of Technology, Taipei City 106, Taiwan
Hui-Ling Chen: Graduate Institute of Educational Leadership and Development, Fu Jen Catholic University, New Taipei City 242, Taiwan
Yi-Tien Lin: Graduate Institute of Business Administration, Fu Jen Catholic University, New Taipei City 242, Taiwan
Chaou-Wen Lin: Department of Marine Leisure and Tourism, Taipei University of Marine Technology, Taipei City 111, Taiwan
Chien-Chang Ho: Department of Physical Education, Fu Jen Catholic University, New Taipei City 242, Taiwan
Hsueh-Yi Lin: Department of Leisure Industry and Health Promotion, National Ilan University, Ilan County 260007, Taiwan
Po-Fu Lee: Department of Physical Education, Fu Jen Catholic University, New Taipei City 242, Taiwan

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 18, issue 1, 1-14

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: functional capability; independent ability; success aging; abdominal obesity (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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