Abstract
The prevalence of chronic diseases in Korea has been rising with obesity as the result of increasing elderly population. Secondary problems such as hypertension, diabetes, and degenerative arthritis caused by obesity affect activities of daily living (ADLs) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs) among elderly people. However, the performance level of ADLs/IADLs and obesity rates according to age have scarcely been investigated. Therefore, we focused on the performance level of ADLs and IADLs among the elderly for investigating disabilities, obesity, and their correlation to age. The subjects were divided into three groups on 80 elderly men and 143 women registered at a senior welfare center (SWC) in I-Cheon according to their age (in their 60s, 70s, and 80s). Their disabilities and body fat percentages were measured and then compared to data from young adults who were in their 20s to discover changes according to age. In this results, 90% of the elderly possessed chronic diseases when their performance levels of ADLs and IADLs were lowered. Those in their 70s, the group that used the senior welfare facilities the most, showed the lowest levels of decline in ADLs and IADLs among participants aged 60–80. In terms of obesity, the elderly possessed a higher degree of overall body fat and a higher ratio of body fat to lean body mass. There were no significant differences in skinfold thickness according to age group. Our results suggest that social education for exercise programs and the use of physical therapy facilities should be encouraged to promote a healthy lifestyle among the elderly people.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Choi, S. J. in Senior Welfare. 2nd Edn (Seoul University, Seoul, 2008).
Korea National Statistical Office. in Population Projections for Korea: 2005–2050. (Korea National Statistical Office, Seoul, 2006).
Lee, G. O. in Status and Issue of Elderly Welfare. 1st Edn (Nanam Co., Seoul, 1999).
Choi, S. N. A study of countermeasure for the aged problems by change of the family structure. J. Kor. Gerontol. Soc. 2, 16–52 (1982).
Kim, M, H., Lee, K. Y. & Jung, S. D. A path analysis on depression among the elderly. J. Kor. Gerontol. Soc. 20, 211–226 (2000).
Yoon, J. in Adult and Senior Psycology. 15th Edn (Jungangjucsung Co., Seoul, 2003).
Kim, K. Y. Geriatric medicine as internist view. J. Kor. Gerontol. Soc. 9, 7–14 (1989).
Bassey, E. J. Longitudinal changes in selected physical capabilities: muscle strength, flexibility and body size. Age Ageing 27(Suppl 3), 12–16 (1998).
Hwang, Y. C. et al. Instrumental activities of daily living and its related factors in the rural elderly. J. Kor. Gerontol. Soc. 13, 84–97 (1993).
Blumenthal, J. A. et al. Cardiovascular and behavioral effects of aerobic exercise training in healthy older men and women. J. Gerontol. 44, M147–M157 (1989).
Lee, J. H., Kim, H. S., Hur, G. B. & Lee, H. C. Influence of age on serum hormone levels, visceral fat area and thigh muscle mass in healthy Korean men. Kor. J. Med. 54, 406–414 (1998a).
An, M. S. et al. Age-related trend of diseases distribution in the elderly aged 60 years and older. Kor. J. Med. 56, 147–158 (1999).
Shin, Y. K. The relationship between obesity and functional status in Korean elderly (Dissertation of Shin, Yonsei University, Seoul, 2002).
Kim, B. et al. p38 Mitogen-activated protein kinase contributes to diminished aortic contraction by endothelin-1 in DOCA-salt hypertensive rats. Hypertension 43, 1086–1091 (2004).
Mo, S. H. & Won, Y. H. A study on the welfare centers for the elderly. J. Kor. Gerontol. Soc. 18, 64–79 (1998).
Ryu, S. H. Analysis of senior center participation. J. Kor. Gerontol. Soc. 21, 191–208 (2001).
Lee, H. J. in Comparative study on the health status of elderly attendants and non-attendants at senior welfare service center 1st Edn (Seoul University Press, Seoul, 2001).
Lee, S. B. in Effects of the exercise programs in the welfare institution on the participants’ aging, physical fitness and quality of life 1st Edn (Yonsei University Press, Seoul, 2003).
Jung, K. H. in Caregiving for the frail elderly and welfare needs of the frail elderly (Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs, Seoul, 1998).
Chon, K. Y. et al. The noxiousness of the salt-dependent hypertension and the effect of the physical stimulation on the change of the hypertension-related sympathetic neurotransmitter. J. Kor. Gerontol. Soc. 24, 1–11 (2004).
Lee, S. S. in Living status of the elderly according to their life-styles 1st Edn (Ewha Womans University Press, Seoul, 1998b).
Park, K. R. & Lee, Y. S. A study on perceptions of successful aging in later life. J. Kor. Gerontol. Soc. 22, 53–66 (2002).
Lim, I. S. The approach of antioxidant, endocrine, & immune system on exercise & aging. Exe. Sci. 11, 35–51 (2002).
Suh, M. K. Health states of the elderly and policy implications. J. Kor. Gerontol. Soc. 15, 28–39 (1995).
Beck, C. H. in The modern society and the elderly welfare. 1st Edn (Korea old people association center, Seoul, 1990).
Shimokata, H. et al. Studies in the distribution of body fat. II. Longitudinal effects of change in weight. Inter. J. Obesity 13, 455–464 (1989).
Lee, K. W. Diagnosis and evaluation of obesity. J. Kor. Soc. Obesity 1, 1–4 (1992).
Rossner, S. Obesity in the elderly-a future matter of concern? Obesity Review 2, 183–188 (2001).
Kwon, I. S. The biology of ageing. Inje Med. J. 23, 67–74 (2002).
Ravussin, E. & Bogardus, C. Relationship of genetics, age, and physical fitness to daily energy expenditure and fuel utilization. Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 49(5 Suppl), 968–975 (1989).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding authors
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Kim, MY., Kim, JH., Kim, B. et al. Comparison study on the daily performance capability and body fat percentage for a healthy life among elderly people using a senior welfare center. Toxicol. Environ. Health Sci. 3, 120–128 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13530-011-0087-0
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13530-011-0087-0