Association between Self-Perceived Health, Physical Activity, and BMD in Aging Men and Women

Abstract

Abstract:The association between general health and bone mineral density (BMD, g/cm 2 ) is not well studied. The purpose of this study was therefore to examine the relationships between BMD, self-perceived health, and lifestyle factors in a well-defined cohort of middle-aged men and women. The cohort studied consisted of 1595 women and men with a mean age of 57 years at baseline (range 30-74 yr), who completed a comprehensive health survey within the Västerbotten Intervention Project. BMD was measured at the femoral neck and lumbar spine a mean of 5 years later using Dual Energy X-ray absorptiometry. After adjusting for age, weight, sex, and follow-up time, self-perceived health (Beta = 0.08, p<0.001), training (Beta = 0.11, p<0.001), snow shoveling (Beta = 0.07, p=0.001), and smoking more than 15 cigarettes per day (Beta = -0.05, p=0.04) were found to be related to femoral neck BMD. Only self-perceived health, age, and weight were found to be related to spine BMD. Self-perceived health was also found to be related to some of the lifestyle factors that were significantly related to BMD, such as training (r = 0.14, p<0.001) and snow shoveling (Beta = 0.15, p<0.001). In summary, several lifestyle factors related to self-perceived health were also found to be related to bone mineral density in a well-defined cohort of middle-aged men and women.

Validity of body image scales for Brazilian older adults

“…Concerning the association among BAS factors, satisfaction with appearance and body satisfaction level, the results found here were similar to other studies that found a strong relationship between satisfaction with appearance and body appreciation (Barreto, Fernandes, & Guihard-Costa, 2011;Whitbourne & Whitbourne, 2001).The difference in body appreciation between sedentary and physically active participants is also worth mentioning. Physical activity is an unquestionable source of experience with the body, and the possibility of experiencing the limits and the possibilities of the body -especially as the living body changes with age -is important for developing body image (Tavares, 2003). This theoretical argument explains this finding, which is important to all physical edicator to consider, since they are the professional that took care of this dimension of life.…”

“…Because the perception of age-related changes in particular is linked with ADL performance, which demands both physical and cognitive effort from the aging individual, it would seem that the perception of aging seems to be a complex product of such activities (Nagel, Werkle-Bergner, Li, & Lindeberger, 2007). An active, healthy lifestyle affects one's self-perception of health and, consequently, healthy aging (Nagel et al, 2007;Tervo, Nordström, & Nordström, 2011). We also found differences in the frequency of health problems and their relation to aging in the sedentary and active groups.…”

“…Because the perception of aging-related changes is linked to everyday activities, which demand effort from the physical and cognitive dimensions of the aging individual, the perception of aging can be seen as a complex product of ADL. Thus, regular physical activity and a healthy lifestyle impact the self-perception of health and, consequently, healthy aging (Nagel et al, 2007;Tervo, Nordström, & Nordström, 2011).…”

“…Body image can be defined as the mental representation of the body's identity (Tavares, 2003). An individual's surroundings, perceptions of others, internal emotions, and integrity and fragility of bodily elements are central components of this representation (Schilder, 1978, Tavares, 2003. Body image dynamically includes interrelated conscious and unconscious aspects that continuously interact with the external world (Schilder, 1978).…”

Health-related and socio-demographic correlates of physical activity level amongst urban menopausal women in Nigeria

“…Studies have shown that individuals who are physically active have a better perception of their health status [20,21].…”