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


CONCLUSIONS
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.
Wong
Chek Hooi
CH
Department of Geriatric Medicine, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore 169608. wong.chek.hooi@sgh.com.sg
Wong
Sweet Fun
SF
Yusoff
Azizah Mohd
AM
Karunananthan
Sathya
S
Bergman
Howard
H
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology; D001823:Body Composition; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010809:Physical Fitness; D011446:Prospective Studies