Physical mobility, physical activity, and obesity among elderly : findings from a large population-based Swedish survey

• Objective To examine how physical activity and physical mobility are related to obesity in the elderly. Study design A cross-sectional study of 2558 men and women aged 65 years and older who participated in a population survey in 2012 was conducted in mid-Sweden with an overall response rate of 67%. Methods Obesity (body mass index ≥30 kg/m2) was based on self-reported weight and height, and physical activity and physical mobility on questionnaire data. Chi-squared test and multiple logistic regressions were used as statistical analyses. Results The overall prevalence of obesity was 19% in women and 15% in men and decreased after the age of 75 years. A strong association between both physical activity and obesity, and physical mobility and obesity was found. The odds for obesity were higher for impaired physical mobility (odds ratio [OR] 2.83, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.14–3.75) than for physical inactivity (OR 1.63, 95% CI 1.28–2.08) when adjusted for gender, age, socio-economic status and fruit and vegetable intake. However, physical activity was associated with obesity only among elderly with physical mobility but not among those with impaired physical mobility. Conclusion It is important to focus on making it easier for elderly with physical mobility to become or stay physically active, whereas elderly with impaired physical mobility have a higher prevalence of obesity irrespective of physical activity.

Ämnesord

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Hälsovetenskap (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Health Sciences (hsv//eng)

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Geriatrik (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Geriatrics (hsv//eng)

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Hälsovetenskap -- Hälso- och sjukvårdsorganisation, hälsopolitik och hälsoekonomi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Health Sciences -- Health Care Service and Management, Health Policy and Services and Health Economy (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

Elderly

Obesity

Physical activity

Physical mobility

Population studies

Sweden

elderly population

mobility

aged

Article

body height

body mass

body weight

chi square test

comorbidity

controlled study

depression

fat mass

female

food intake

fruit intake

geriatric care

health survey

human

major clinical study

male

physical inactivity

population based case control study

prevalence

questionnaire

self report

social status

Swedish citizen

vegetable intake

very elderly

cross-sectional study

exercise

walking difficulty

Aged

80 and over

Cross-Sectional Studies

Health Surveys

Humans

Mobility Limitation

Public Health Science

Publikations- och innehållstyp

ref (ämneskategori)

art (ämneskategori)