Longitudinal Study of the Relationship between Lifestyles and Related Health Factors in Community-Dwelling Elderly

Abstract

Abstract. [Purpose] This study investigated the relationships among lifestyles, functional capacity, and motor ability that influence self-reliance over a period of 2 years.[Subjects] The subjects were 53 elderly people (average age: 76.4 years) living on A Island,who were independent in ADL in the baseline survey conducted in 2005.[Methods] The survey was conducted by interviews and motor ability test. There were 22 items for lifestyles, 13 items for functional capacity and 3 items for physical performance in the survey. The present study was undertaken in order to identify predictors of lifestyles at follow-up carried out 2 years later.[Results] Grip strength, intellectual activity, and social role were lower than those in 2005. In the relationship between lifestyles and functional capacity, subjective view of health (SVH) showed a significant correlations social lifestyles and instrumental activities, social role, all lifestyles and subjective view of health. In considering these outcomes and the differences between decrease and maintenance of lifestyle groups at baseline, those which could influence psychological lifestyles, were examined.[Conclusion] These results suggest that efforts to maintain lifestyle, and functional capacity might be useful for maintaining active self-reliance in the elderly.

Comparison of Physical Fitness Status between Middle-aged and Elderly Male Laborers According to Lifestyle Behaviors

“…Bad lifestyle behaviors hugely damage physical development and physical fitness and affect mental development as well. According to a previous study, people with sound desirable lifestyle behaviors maintain about 30 year younger physical health than those without 9 ) . As such, lifestyle behaviors function importantly in health maintenance or disease development.…”

Study of the physical condition of middle-aged workers by gender

“…For aged workers, being in good health means more than being diagnosed without disease, it also means being equipped with the functional strength that helps them perform their everyday activities both safely and independently in such a way that they do not feel very tired 5 ) . From the viewpoint of industrial health science focusing on aged workers, maintaining and improving the physical condition of middle-aged workers, which should eventually increase the productive age of workers, is considered a task that most countries in the world should take seriously 6 ) . But even so, research on middle-aged workers’ physical condition has gained little attention in any relevant field, and in particular, proper workout programs which take into account physical condition which differ according to gender, or other factors affecting workers’ physical condition, have not been thoroughly investigated.…”