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The effect of later-life health promotion on functional performance and body composition

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Abstract

Background and aims: Functional decline in older adults is related physiologically to both aging and lifestyle-related risk factors. The role of health promotion and lifestyle modifications in preventing functional performance decline in community-dwelling older adults has not been well established. We evaluated the effects of an education-based health promotion program on functional performance and body composition in midlife and older adults. Methods: A prospective study of a 4-week health promotion program for community-dwelling older adults. Outcome measures of gait speed, chair rise time, grip strength, weight, body mass index (BMI) and bioelectric impedance analysis (BIA) for body fat were assessed at baseline, 6 and 12 months. Results: Participants (n=117) with a mean age 62.9±8 years; 63.2% were women. Gait speed improved by 0.20 ms−1 (95% CI 0.14, 0.29; p<0.001) and chair rise time decreased by 0.36 s (95% CI −0.13, −0.56; p=0.001) at 12 months. There was no change in grip strength (p=0.433). There was a modest decrease in weight 0.55 kg (95% CI−0.08, −1.01; p=0.019), BMI 0.35 kgm−2 (95% CI−0.02, −0.64; p=0.033) and fat impedance 0.75% (95% CI−0.09, −1.26; p=0.021)at 12 months. Imputation to account for missing outcomes did not alter overall conclusions. Conclusion: A 4-week education-based health promotion in later-life is feasible and may help to improve and maintain functional performance and body composition in midlife and older adults.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geriatric Medicine, Bowyer Block A, Singapore General Hospital, Outram Road, 169608, Singapore, Singapore

    Chek Hooi Wong

  2. Department of Geriatric Medicine, Alexandra Hospital, Singapore, Singapore

    Sweet Fun Wong & Azizah Mohd Yusoff

  3. Solidage Research Group, McGill University/University of Montreal, Montreal, Canada

    Chek Hooi Wong, Sathya Karunananthan & Howard Bergman

  4. Jewish General Hospital/McGill University, Montreal, Canada

    Howard Bergman

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  1. Chek Hooi Wong
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  2. Sweet Fun Wong
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  3. Azizah Mohd Yusoff
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  4. Sathya Karunananthan
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  5. Howard Bergman
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Correspondence to Chek Hooi Wong.

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Wong, C.H., Wong, S.F., Yusoff, A.M. et al. The effect of later-life health promotion on functional performance and body composition. Aging Clin Exp Res 20, 454–460 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03325152

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