title: Physical Activity Energy Expenditure and Sarcopenia in Black South African Urban Women.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Black women are believed to be genetically less predisposed to age-related sarcopenia. The objective of this study was to investigate lifestyle factors associated with sarcopenia in black South African (SA) urban women.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a cross-sectional study, 247 women (mean age 57 y) were randomly selected. Anthropometric and sociodemographic variables, dietary intakes, and physical activity were measured. Activity was also measured by combined accelerometery/heart rate monitoring (ActiHeart), and HIV status was tested. Dual energy x-ray absorptiometry was used to measure appendicular skeletal mass (ASM). Sarcopenia was defined according to a recently derived SA cutpoint of ASM index (ASM/height squared) < 4.94 kg/m(2).
  
  
  RESULTS
  In total, 8.9% of the women were sarcopenic, decreasing to 8.1% after exclusion of participants who were HIV positive. In multiple regressions with ASM index, grip strength, and gait speed, respectively, as dependent variables, only activity energy expenditure (β = .27) was significantly associated with ASM index. Age (β = -.50) and activity energy expenditure (β = .17) were significantly associated with gait speed. Age (β = -.11) and lean mass (β = .21) were significantly associated with handgrip strength.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Sarcopenia was prevalent among these SA women and was associated with low physical activity energy expenditure.
authors.affiliation: Centre of Excellence for Nutrition, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa.
authors.forename: Herculina S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Kruger
authors.forename: Lize
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Havemann-Nel
authors.forename: Chrisna
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ravyse
authors.forename: Sarah J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Moss
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tieland
mesh_terms: D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D000886:Anthropometry; D044383:Black People; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D005260:Female; D005684:Gait; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D018737:Hand Strength / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology; D015995:Prevalence; D055948:Sarcopenia / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000503:physiopathology*