Daily physical activity, aging and body composition.
Increasing age is associated with changes in physical activity and loss of fat-free mass. The question is whether an active life style can delay the progressive loss of fat-free mass and functional capacity. A review of available evidence from doubly labeled water studies showed that there is no association between fat-free mass and the level of physical activity in subjects over 60. Physical activity does not seem to affect the age-induced loss of fat-free mass. However, an active life style has positive effects on muscle function and thus is an important determinant of independent living at old age.
Westerterp
K R
KR
Department of Human Biology, Maastricht University, PO Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands. K.Westerterp@HB.Unimaas.NL
D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D001823:Body Composition / Q000502:physiology*; D003903:Deuterium; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology*; D014867:Water
D014867:Water; D003903:Deuterium