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Obese very old women have low relative handgrip strength, poor physical function, and difficulties in daily living

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The journal of nutrition, health & aging

Abstract

Objectives

To investigate whether anthropometric and body composition variables and handgrip strength (HS) were associated with physical function and independent daily living in 88-year-old Swedish women.

Participants

A cross-sectional analysis of 83 community-dwelling women aged 88 years who were of normal weight (n=30), overweight (n=29), and obese (n=24) was performed.

Measurements

Body weight (Wt), height, waist circumference (WC), and arm circumference were assessed using an electronic scale and a measuring tape. Tricep skinfold thickness was measured using a skinfold calliper. Fat mass (FM) and fat-free mass (FFM) were measured using bioelectrical impedance analysis, and HS was recorded with an electronic grip force instrument. Linear regression was used to determine the contributions of parameters as a single predictor or as a ratio of HS to physical function (Short Form-36, SF-36PF) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADL).

Results

Obese women had greater absolute FM and FFM and lower HS corrected for FFM and HS-based ratios (i.e., HS/Wt, HS/body mass index [BMI]) than their normal weight and overweight counterparts. After adjusting for physical activity levels and the number of chronic diseases, HS-based ratios explained more variance in SF-36PF scoring (R2, 0.52–0.54) than single anthropometric and body composition variables (R2, 0.45–0.51). WC, HS, and HS-based ratios (HS/Wt and HS/FFM) were also associated with independence in IADL.

Conclusion

Obese very old women have a high WC but their HS is relatively low in relation to their Wt and FFM. These parameters are better than BMI for predicting physical function and independent daily living.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Geriatrics, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Linköping University, SE-581 85, Linköping, Sweden

    Huan-Ji Dong, J. Marcusson & E. Wressle

  2. Department of Geriatric Medicine, County Council of Östergötland, Linköping, Sweden

    J. Marcusson & E. Wressle

  3. Department of Social and Welfare Studies, Faculty of Health Sciences, Linköping University, Norrköping, Sweden

    M. Unosson

Authors
  1. Huan-Ji Dong
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  2. J. Marcusson
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  3. E. Wressle
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  4. M. Unosson
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Correspondence to Huan-Ji Dong.

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Dong, HJ., Marcusson, J., Wressle, E. et al. Obese very old women have low relative handgrip strength, poor physical function, and difficulties in daily living. J Nutr Health Aging 19, 20–25 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12603-014-0512-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12603-014-0512-6

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