Postmenopausal obesity: 12,500 steps per day as a remedy? Relationships between body composition and daily steps in postmenopausal women.
BACKGROUND
To verify relationships between physical activity (steps per day) and obesity (components of body composition) among postmenopausal women.


METHODS
Physical activity (ActiGraph GT1M accelerometer; worn for 7 days) and obesity (body composition analyzer InBody 720) were assessed among 79 healthy postmenopausal women (age 63.25 ± 5.51 years; range: 51-81 years). In order to determine differences in body composition in women with different levels of physical activity, one-way analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was conducted, with age of participants as a covariate.


RESULTS
Significant intergroup differences in almost all analyzed components of the body composition (weight, body mass index, waist-hip ratio, visceral fat area, body fat mass and percent of body fat) were obtained. Highly active women (≥ 12,500 steps/day) had lower weight and adiposity parameters than those that represented low (< 7,500 steps/day) or somewhat active (7,500-9,999 steps/day) groups. Besides, a noteworthy difference between active (10,000-12,499 steps/day) and low active women was recorded. Noticeably, only in the most active group was the BMI within normal ranges.


CONCLUSIONS
The higher physical activity, the lower obesity in postmenopausal women. The recommended 10,000 steps/day seems insufficient for this age group. Based on the obtained results, postmenopausal women should walk at least 12,500 steps per day to improve their health.
Department of Psychology, University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Warsaw, Poland.
Aleksandra
A
Kroemeke
Department of Physical Education, The Jerzy Kukuczka Academy of Physical Education, Katowice, Poland.
Izabela
I
Zając-Gawlak
Department of Physical Education, The Jerzy Kukuczka Academy of Physical Education, Katowice, Poland.
Dariusz
D
Pośpiech
Department of Natural Science in Kinanthropology, Faculty of Physical Culture, Palacký University, Olomouc, Czech Republic.
Aleš
A
Gába
Department of Natural Science in Kinanthropology, Faculty of Physical Culture, Palacký University, Olomouc, Czech Republic.
Miroslava
M
Přidalová
Department of Natural Science in Kinanthropology, Faculty of Physical Culture, Palacký University, Olomouc, Czech Republic.
Jana
J
Pelclová
body composition; daily steps; obesity; physical activity; postmenopausal women