Age-related changes in body composition in a sample of Czech women aged 18–89 years: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

BackgroundThe Czech Republic lacks body composition data for women. Therefore, the purpose of the study was to analyze body composition [body fat mass (BFM), fat-free mass (FFM), body fat percentage (%BFM) and visceral adipose tissue (VAT)] and to evaluate the changes that occur with aging in women aged 18–89 years. We also analyzed anthropometric characteristics of study participants and developed age-specific percentile curves for body composition parameters.MethodsA cross-sectional, non‐randomized study was conducted with a sample of 1,970 apparently healthy Czech women. Body composition was measured using a direct segmental multi-frequency bioelectrical impedance analysis (BSM-BIA).ResultsThe mean BFM was 19.7 ± 8.9 kg, and BFM reached its peak in women over 70, at 27.6 ± 8.8 kg. There was a strong correlation between BFM and age (r = 0.61; r2 = 0.37). Fifty percent of the women in the study had a BFM between 13.0 and 25.0 kg. The %BFM (r = 0.69; r2 = 0.47) and VAT (r = 0.88; r2 = 0.77) were also significantly associated with age. The reference range for %BFM was 22.0–35.6 % (25th–75th percentile). The mean FFM was 45.8 ± 5.5 kg, and FFM decreased with age (r = −0.27; r2 = 0.07).ConclusionsThe results presented in this study showed a statistically significant increase in BFM, %BFM and VFA as age increased, and the values reached their peak in women over 70. Even when FFM decreased slightly with age, body weight increased because of the increase in BFM.

Estimation of prevalence of sarcopenia by using a new bioelectrical impedance analysis in Chinese community-dwelling elderly people

“…Similar to those of other authors [4, 30, 33, 34], our present findings also confirmed the decrease in ASM, ASMI, HS, and GS, and the increase in the prevalence rates of low muscle mass, low muscle strength, and low physical performance with age. We observed that ASM was significantly lower among the women aged ≥75 years than among those in the preceding age group (12.76 ± 0.22 kg vs. 14.13 ± 0.15 kg, p  < 0.001).…”

“…Moreover, even though ASM decreased dramatically, body weight just decreased slightly with aging, partly due to the increase in FM (unreported data). The decrease in ASM and increase in FM accompanying aging may lead to the development of sarcopenia and contribute to obesity in the elderly [33]. We also found that muscle strength (HS) and physical performance (GS) decreased more greatly with age than did muscle mass ( p  < 0.001), which was similar to the findings of previous cross-sectional or longitudinal investigations [30, 35–38].…”

Body Composition Outcomes of a Qigong Intervention Among Community-Dwelling Aging Adults

“…Although the results of this study differ from those of some previous studies (Ferreira, da Silva Coqueiro, Barbosa, Pinheiro, & Fernandes, 2013), they are consistent with those of recent studies and suggest that the BMI alone is not an adequate index for all target populations because of age-related body fat redistribution, especially that in older adults (Bhurosy & Jeewon, 2013;S.-H. Chang, Beason, Hunleth, & Colditz, 2012;Gába & Přidalová, 2014). Therefore, it can be assumed that the BMI is not the most appropriate index for assessing visceral fat or predicting the effects of PA, especially in aging adults.…”

“…The majority of studies have found that the obesity and low muscle mass may coexist in aging adults (Gába & Přidalová, 2014;Kalyani, Corriere, & Ferrucci, 2014;N. Miljkovic, Lim, Miljkovic, & Frontera, 2015;Sakuma & Yamaguchi, 2013), and obesity and sarcopenia in the aging adults may potentiate each other, maximizing physical disability, morbidity, and mortality (Batsis, Mackenzie, Barre, Lopez-Jimenez, & Bartels, 2014;Benton, Whyte, & Dyal, 2011;Bouchonville & Villareal, 2013;Fragala, Kenny, & Kuchel, 2015;Mathus-Vliegen, 2012;Sakuma & Yamaguchi, 2013).…”

Response to Letter to the Editor from Dr. Safer et al. regarding the article “Age-related changes in body composition in a sample of Czech women aged 18–89 years: a cross-sectional study,” published in European Journal of Nutrition

“…We appreciate that Dr. Umut Safer and his colleagues considered our study [1] interesting and recommended it to readers of the European Journal of Nutrition. With regards to the letter from Safer et al about our recent publication, our responses to the letter are as follows.…”