Associations between obesity, physical fitness, and urinary incontinence in non-institutionalized postmenopausal women: The elderly EXERNET multi-center study.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the associations between body composition, fitness level, and urinary incontinence (UI) in 471 non-institutionalized women ≥ 65 years of age.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study.


METHODS
UI was assessed using the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire Short-Form and a specific severity UI item. Anthropometric measurements were obtained using standardized techniques and equipment. Body fat percentage (BF%) was measured by bioelectrical impedance. Physical fitness (PF) was evaluated by a set of 8 tests and a fitness index (FI) was calculated. Active and sedentary behaviors were recorded by standardized questionnaires.


RESULTS
UI was reported in 28.5% of the participants. Women with UI showed higher values of body mass index (BMI), BF% and waist circumference (WC) (all p<0.05) compared to urinary continent women, whereas there was a lower fitness index (FI) level in women with UI (p=0.08). Among all fitness capacities, upper body flexibility showed the closest relationship with UI. UI risk increased by 87.0% [95% confidence intervals (1.01-3.17)] in obese women compared to the normal group, according to the BF% while no significant results were found when PF, WC and BMI were included in the model. Mean sitting and walking time per day were 4.3±1.4 and 1.8±0.9 h/d, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
UI was associated with an excess of fat mass and poor PF, especially upper-body flexibility.
Growth, Exercise, Nutrition and Development (GENUD) Toledo Research Group, University of Castilla-La Mancha, Toledo, Spain.
Beatriz
B
Moreno-Vecino
Growth, Exercise, Nutrition and Development (GENUD) Toledo Research Group, University of Castilla-La Mancha, Toledo, Spain.
Alfredo
A
Arija-Blázquez
ImFINE Research Group, Technical University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain.
Raquel
R
Pedrero-Chamizo
Growth, Exercise, Nutrition and Development (GENUD) Toledo Research Group, University of Castilla-La Mancha, Toledo, Spain.
Julián
J
Alcázar
Centro Universitario de la Defensa, Zaragoza, Spain; GENUD Research Group, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain.
Alba
A
Gómez-Cabello
Faculty of Medicine, University of Zaragoza and Lozano Blesa University Hospital, Zaragoza, Spain.
Faustino R
FR
Pérez-López
ImFINE Research Group, Technical University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain.
Marcela
M
González-Gross
Centro Universitario de la Defensa, Zaragoza, Spain.
José A
JA
Casajús
Growth, Exercise, Nutrition and Development (GENUD) Toledo Research Group, University of Castilla-La Mancha, Toledo, Spain. Electronic address: ignacio.ara@uclm.es.
Ignacio
I
Ara
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015992:Body Mass Index; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006299:Health Services for the Aged; D006801:Humans; D009767:Obesity, Morbid / Q000150:complications*; D010809:Physical Fitness; D017698:Postmenopause; D015995:Prevalence; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014549:Urinary Incontinence / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016138:Walking; D016387:Women's Health
Aging; Central obesity; Fat mass; Functional fitness; Physical activity; Urinary incontinence