title: [Strength, flexibility, balance, resistance and flexibility assessment according to body mass index in active older women].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Overweight and obesity are increasing at an alarming rate among older people. This is mainly because this population is predominantly sedentary. The aim of this study was to classify, according to the body mass index (BMI), a group of older active women and to evaluate the different basic physical abilities as a function of this.
  
  
  METHODS
  The BMI and fitness were evaluated in 60 elderly active women (mean age: 66.14 ± 6.59 years) using the 2-minute step test, arm curl test, chair stand test, back scratch test, chair-sit and reach-test, flamenco test, and 8-foot up-and-go test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  It was found that 52.23% of the women studied had a normal BMI and 47.76% were slightly overweight. There were no cases of obesity or underweight. Women with normal BMI had better values in all tests than overweight women. Significant differences were found in the flamenco test (P<.05), and 8-foot up-and-go test (P<.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Older women who usually do physical activity had a normal or slightly overweight BMI. It was also found that women with lower BMI have better resistance, flexibility, balance and strength.
authors: Instituto de Investigación en Envejecimiento, Universidad de Murcia, Campus Mare Nostrum, Murcia, España. raquel.vaquero@um.es
authors: Raquel
authors: R
authors: Vaquero-Cristóbal
authors: Ignacio
authors: I
authors: Martínez González-Moro
authors: Fernando
authors: F
authors: Alacid Cárceles
authors: Esperanza
authors: E
authors: Ros Simón
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015992:Body Mass Index; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006801:Humans; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000502:physiology; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000502:physiology; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000502:physiology
keywords: Body weight; Ejercicio y aptitud física; Exercise and physical fitness; Obesidad; Obesity; Peso corporal