Associations between Smoking Status and Health-Related Physical Fitness and Balance Ability among Older Males in Taiwan.

The primary aim of this study was to examine the relationships between smoking status and health-related physical fitness and balance ability in older males residing in Taiwan. This investigation adopted a cross-sectional design, utilizing data from 7688 older males who took part in the 2014-2015 wave of the National Physical Fitness Survey of Taiwan. Various data sources, including a standardized structured questionnaire, anthropometric measurements, health-related physical fitness assessments, and balance ability tests, were analyzed. The participants were divided into three categories based on their smoking habits: never smokers, former smokers, and current smokers. Multiple regression analyses were performed to evaluate the linear association between cigarette smoking status and health-related physical fitness and balance ability performance. Health-related physical fitness and balance performance were significantly greater (p < 0.05) in the never smoker group than in the current smoker group. Current smoking status was significantly negatively (p < 0.05) associated with cardiopulmonary function, muscular endurance, flexibility, and balance performance. A history of smoking (former smoker) was significantly negatively (p < 0.05) associated with the 2-min step test, 30-s arm curl and chair stand, as well as the 8-foot up-and-go test; however, the association was not significant for the back scratch, chair sit-and-reach, and one-leg stance with eyes open performance. These results suggest that current cigarette smoking is detrimental to health-related physical fitness and balance performance in older males. Quitting smoking may reverse the effects of smoking on overall body flexibility and static balance performance in Taiwanese older adults, thereby reducing the risk of falls and incapacity.

Gender and Age Differences in Anthropometric Characteristics of Taiwanese Older Adults Aged 65 Years and Older.

A previous study provided reference data on the age and gender distribution of anthropometric parameters in Taiwanese adults. However, there are very few large-scale analyses of anthropometric data of older adults in Taiwan. Therefore, the main purpose of this study was to describe gender- and age-specific distributions of anthropometric measurements and anthropometry assessments of Taiwanese older adults. This was a cross-sectional study conducted on 22,389 adults aged 65 years or older (8017 males and 14,372 females) who participated in Taiwan's National Physical Fitness Survey 2014-2015. All participants were recruited using stratified convenience sampling from 46 physical fitness test stations in 22 cities or counties in Taiwan. The anthropometric measurements and anthropometry assessments included in the present study were the assessments of height, weight, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), hip circumference (HC), and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR). The results showed statistically significant differences in weight, height, WC, and WHR across all age groups among both male and female individuals aged 65 years and older in Taiwan. However, there was no significant difference in BMI and HC between males and females in all age groups. Anthropometric status provides an initial assessment of the overall health of the population. This study uses a representative population of Taiwanese older adults over the age of 65 for analysis and provides detailed information on anthropometric data distribution.

Cross-Correlations between Scientific Physical Fitness, Body Mass Index Distribution, and Overweight/Obesity Risks among Adults in Taiwan.

Background and Objectives: Health-related physical fitness reduces the risk of chronic disease, promotes quality of life, and has enormous economic benefits considering the global health care costs resulting from obesity. However, relatively limited information is available regarding the dose-response relationship between scientific physical fitness and obesity risk. This study aimed to determine the associations of scientific physical fitness with body mass index (BMI) distribution and overweight/obesity risk among adults aged 23-64 years in Taiwan. Materials and Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study and reviewed data derived from the Scientific Physical Fitness Testing Program, Sports Administration, Ministry of Education, Taiwan. Responses from 16,939 participants from the database (7761 men and 9178 women, aged 23-64 years) were collected in this study. Each participant completed a series of scientific physical fitness measurements, including cardiorespiratory fitness (3 min progressive knee-up and step [3MPKS] test), muscular fitness (hand grip strength), and flexibility (sit-and-reach test). Anthropometric measurements included body height, weight, and BMI. The quartiles of scientific physical fitness results were identified as the dependent variable in the multiple linear and multiple logistic regression analysis to determine the associations of the scientific physical fitness measurements with BMI distribution and overweight/obesity risk, as well as the dose-response relationship. Results: The 3MPKS test was significantly associated with BMI (quartile 1 (Q1): ß = 1.900; quartile 2 (Q2): ß = 1.594; quartile 3 (Q3): ß = 1.079 for men, and Q1: ß = 1.454; Q2: ß = 0.882; Q3: ß = 0.555 for women), overweight (Q1: odds ratio (OR) = 2.117; Q2: OR = 2.056; Q3: OR = 2.063 for men, and Q1: OR = 3.036; Q2: OR = 2.542; Q3: OR = 1.959 for women), and obesity (Q1: OR = 6.530; Q2: OR = 5.747; Q3: OR = 3.557 for men, and Q1: OR = 3.238; Q2: OR = 1.431 for women) risk compared with quartile 4 (Q4) as the reference group with a dose-response relationship. In addition, relative hand grip strength was significantly associated with BMI (Q2: ß = -0.922; Q3: ß = -1.865; Q4: ß = -3.108 for men, and Q2: ß = -1.309; Q3: ß = -2.161; Q4: ß = -2.759 for women), overweight (Q2: OR = 0.806; Q3: OR = 0.697; Q4: OR = 0.278 for men, and Q2: OR = 0.667; Q3: OR = 0.398; Q4: OR = 0.228 for women), and obesity (Q1: OR = 0.528; Q2: OR = 0.206; Q3: OR = 0.049 for men, and Q1: OR = 0.351; Q2: OR = 0.129; Q3: OR = 0.051 for women) risk compared with Q1 as the reference group with a dose-response relationship. Conclusions: Higher levels of performance of the 3MPKS and relative grip strength tests were associated with lower BMI and overweight/obesity risk in both sexes. However, the sit-and-reach test was only partially related to BMI and overweight/obesity risk in both sexes. Cardiorespiratory fitness and muscular fitness were effective predictors of BMI distribution and overweight/obesity risk in Taiwanese adults.

Associations between cigarette smoking status and health-related physical fitness performance in male Taiwanese adults.

Background: The highest proportion of smoking behavior occurs in male adults in Taiwan. However, to our knowledge, no study has investigated the relationship between smoking behavior and health-related physical fitness according to education level, health status, betel nut-chewing status and obesity in male adults aged 18 years or older in Taiwan. Aims: This study aimed to determine the associations between cigarette smoking and health-related physical fitness performance in male Taiwanese adults. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted on 27,908 male adults (aged 23-64 years) who participated in Taiwan's National Physical Fitness Survey 2014-2015. Data from a standardized structured questionnaire, anthropometric variables, and health-related physical fitness measurements were analyzed. Individuals were categorized as never smoking cigarettes, former smoker, and current smoker. Multiple linear regression analysis was performed to evaluate the association between cigarette smoking and health-related physical fitness performance. Results: Never smoking group exhibited a lower (p < 0.05) proportion of abdominal obesity, higher (p < 0.05) proportion of perceived good health status, and greater (p < 0.05) performance in 1-min sit-up and sit-and-reach tests when compared with current smoking and former smoking group. Former smoking group had the highest (p < 0.05) performance in 3-min step test among all groups. Current smoker was significantly negatively (p < 0.05) associated with 3-min step, 1-min sit-up and sit-and-reach tests. Notably, former smoker was significantly positively (p < 0.05) associated with 3-min step and 1-min sit-up tests, but still negatively (p < 0.05) associated with sit-and-reach performance. Conclusion: Current smoker was associated with an increased the risk of abdominal obesity, reduced the perceived health status and health-related physical fitness performance. Quitting smoking had beneficial effect on the perceived good health status, cardiorespiratory and muscular fitness in male Taiwanese adults, but not on flexibility performance. Further research on the ameliorate mechanism underlying this phenomenon is warranted.

Associations of Health-Related Physical Fitness with Waist Circumference and Abdominal Obesity Risk in Taiwanese Adults.

In this study, we aimed to determine the associations among health-related physical fitness measurements, waist circumference (WC), and abdominal obesity risk in Taiwanese adults. We conducted a cross-sectional study based on data from the 2017 Taiwan Scientific Physical Fitness Survey (the TSPFS). We collected the responses from 17,973 participants (7907 men and 10,066 women) aged 23-64 years for this study. The participants completed the study protocol with a standardized structural questionnaire and a series of health-related physical fitness measurements. The fitness measurements included cardiorespiratory fitness (measured by a 3-min progressive knee-up and step test), muscular fitness (measured by a hand grip strength test), and flexibility (measured by a sit-and-reach test). Our anthropometric measurements included height, weight, WC, hip circumference (HC), body mass index (BMI), and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR). We identified the quartiles of the health-related physical fitness results as the dependent variable in the multiple linear and multiple logistic regression analysis to determine the associations of the physical fitness measurements with WC distribution and abdominal obesity risk. We also considered the dose-response relationship. We found that cardiorespiratory fitness, relative grip strength, and flexibility were each significantly negatively associated with WC, but absolute grip strength was significantly positively associated with WC. We also found that higher levels of cardiorespiratory fitness, relative grip strength, and flexibility were each associated with a lower risk of abdominal obesity. Moreover, our secondary finding was of a dose-response relationship between physical fitness performance, WC, and abdominal obesity risk. In short, health-related physical fitness was an effective predictor of waist circumference for both sexes of Taiwanese adults, and higher levels of health-related physical fitness were associated with lower risks of abdominal obesity in Taiwanese adults.

Low Cardiorespiratory Fitness, Muscular Fitness, and Flexibility Are Associated with Body Fat Distribution and Obesity Risk Using Bioelectrical Impedance in Taiwanese Adults.

In terms of public health, obesity and overweight have become major concerns worldwide. Nevertheless, regarding body composition, it is important to have a more precise understanding of the fat-to-muscle ratio. Hence, this study aimed to adopt bioelectrical impedance measurements to test body fat percentage (BF%) and to determine the associations between health-related physical fitness and both body fat (BF) distribution and BF obesity risk in Taiwanese adults. We conducted a cross-sectional study and reviewed data derived from Taiwan's Scientific Physical Fitness Survey. From the database, responses from 17,970 participants aged 23−64 years were collected in this study. Each participant completed a series of health-related physical fitness measurements, including cardiorespiratory fitness (3 min of a progressive knee-up and step (3MPKS) test), muscular fitness (hand-grip strength), and flexibility (sit-and-reach test). The BF% of each participant was assessed using the bioelectrical impedance analysis method. BF% was negatively associated with low performance on the 3MPKS (ß = 11.314, p < 0.0001 for men; ß = 12.308, p < 0.0001 for women), hand-grip strength (ß = 2.071, p < 0.0001 for men; ß = 0.859, p < 0.0001 for women), and sit-and-reach (ß = 0.337, p = 0.008 for women) tests but was positively associated with sit-and-reach (ß = −0.394, p = 0.004 for men). A risk of BF obesity for low performance of 3MPKS (odds ratio (OR) = 26.554, p < 0.0001 for men; OR = 25.808, p < 0.0001 for women), hand-grip strength (OR = 1.682, p < 0.0001 for men; OR = 1.234, p < 0.0001 for women), and sit-and-reach (OR = 1.142, p = 0.007 for women) tests was observed. These results suggest that low levels of cardiorespiratory fitness, muscular fitness, and flexibility are associated with an increased risk of BF obesity.

Association between health-related physical fitness and self-reported health status in older Taiwanese adults.

BACKGROUND: Aging is an inevitable process of life development. These physical changes may cause a decline in the functional adaptability and health of older adults. This study aims to determine if an association exists between health-related physical fitness measurements and self-reported health status in older Taiwanese adults. METHODS: A total of 22,389 Taiwanese adults aged 65 years or older were recruited as study participants. Demographic characteristics, life habits, anthropometric assessments, health-related physical fitness measurements, and self-reported health status from this dataset were analyzed using the chi-square test, one-way analysis of variance, and logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: The results showed that there was significant association between back scratch and self-reported health status (excellent/good) (odds ratio [OR], 1.003; 95% CI 1.000-1.006) after adjusting potential confounders (gender, height, weight, body mass index, education, monthly income, marital status, smoking status, and chewing betel nuts). However, adjusted OR for unhealthy status (poor/very poor) significantly decreased for chair sit-and-reach test (OR 0.994, 95% CI 0.988-0.999). CONCLUSIONS: The present study reveals significant associations between health-related physical fitness measurements and self-reported health status in older Taiwanese adults. In particular, the waist-to-hip ratio could be involved in the cognitive process of one's subjective health status, since individuals' perception of their physical appearance affects their self-reported health. Future researches are suggested to investigate the causality between health-related physical fitness and subjective health status.

Relationship between Regular Leisure-Time Physical Activity and Underweight and Overweight Status in Taiwanese Young Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study.

The aim of this study was to determine the association between regular leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) and various body mass index (BMI) categories in Taiwanese young adults. A total of 10,802 young adults (18−44 years) were enrolled in a national telephone survey. The questionnaire data from this survey included socio-demographic characteristics, zip code of residence, LTPA behaviors, self-reported health status, and self-evaluated anthropometric measurements, which included height, body weight, and BMI. Regular and non-regular LTPA behaviors were defined as follows: (1) Regular LTPA: participants who reported breathing quickly and sweating when participating in 150−300 min per week of moderate-intensity LTPA or 75−150 min per week of vigorous-intensity LTPA. (2) Non-regular LTPA: the rest of the participants. The various BMI categories were defined as (1) underweight (BMI < 18.5 kg/m2), (2) normal weight (18.5 ≤ BMI < 24 kg/m2), (3) overweight (24 ≤ BMI < 27 kg/m2), and (4) obese (BMI ≥ 27 kg/m2). When compared with participants with non-regular LTPA, participants with regular LTPA exhibited lower risks of being overweight (odds ratio [OR], 0.837; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.738−0.948) and underweight (OR, 0.732; 95% CI 0.611−0.876). However, there was no significant relationship between regular LTPA and obesity risk when using non-regular LTPA as the baseline after adjusting for potential confounders. The study results revealed that regular LTPA effectively reduced the risks of being underweight and overweight. However, for people with obesity, regular LTPA was unable to significantly decrease their obesity risk.

Association of Regular Leisure-Time Physical Activity with Self-Reported Body Mass Index and Obesity Risk among Middle-Aged and Older Adults in Taiwan.

Through this study, we aimed to determine the association of regular leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) with self-reported body mass index (BMI) and obesity risk among middle-aged and older adults in Taiwan. We conducted a cross-sectional study and reviewed the data derived from the Taiwan National Physical Activity Survey (TNPAS). Responses from 12,687 participants aged 45-108 years from the database were collected in this study. All the participants completed a standardized structured questionnaire that solicitated information regarding their demographic characteristics (age, gender, education, occupation, and self-reported health status), physical activity behaviors (regular/nonregular LTPA), and self-reported anthropometrics (height, weight, and BMI). Multiple linear and logistic regressions were used to examine the association between regular LTPA and BMI, and between regular LTPA and obesity status, respectively. Regular LTPA was associated with male gender, normal weight, excellent or good self-reported health status, and a lower rate of being underweight compared with nonregular LTPA. Regular LTPA was significant negatively associated with being underweight (OR = 0.71, p < 0.05), whereas it had no significant relationship with BMI and obesity (p > 0.05). Regular LTPA was associated with a reduced risk of being underweight among middle-aged and elderly adults in Taiwan. Further research on the relevant mechanism underlying this phenomenon is warranted.

Association of Regular Leisure-Time Physical Activity with Happiness among Middle-Aged and Older Adults in Taiwan.

The aim of the present study was to clarify the relationship between regular LTPA (i.e., 150-300 min of moderate-intensity or 75-150 min of high-intensity physical activity) and happiness among middle-aged and older adults in Taiwan. The cross-sectional study data were obtained from the Taiwan National Physical Activity Survey, a nationally representative survey of the Taiwanese population. A total of 12,687 middle-aged and older adults (45-108 years) were ultimately enrolled in this study. The questionnaire data obtained through this national telephone survey included sociodemographic characteristics, self-reported health status, self-evaluations (comprising height, body weight, and happiness), and zip code of residence. The results suggest a significant positive relationship between regular LTPA and happiness scores; that is, the middle-aged adults who engaged in more LTPA may report higher happiness occurrence than others. This study suggests that regular LTPA is an essential factor influencing happiness. LTPA is an essential form of physical activity that helps middle-aged and older people to relax.

Anthropometric Characteristics in Taiwanese Adults: Age and Gender Differences.

Population aging is creating critical issues in Taiwan, and adults are being forced to maintain productivity at work; in other words, they need to work longer. Therefore, their fitness and health warrant immediate attention. Although the association between health and anthropometric characteristics has been reported, few profiles on Taiwanese adults can be found. The purpose of this study was to provide a suitable reference on the anthropometric data of Taiwanese adults. We recruited 60,056 anthropometric measurements from a representative database. Significant differences were found in every measurement for each gender and age group. Statistically, our results indicated anthropometric differences in different ages. However, CVs showed that the dispersions are minor. This study presents a sufficient profile on Taiwanese adults from a representative database to practitioners and other potential users.

Poor health-related physical fitness performance increases the overweight and obesity risk in older adults from Taiwan.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of the present study was to investigate the associations between health-related physical fitness performance and overweight/obesity risk among Taiwanese healthy older adults. METHODS: A secondary dataset from the nationwide survey was applied in this study. Data from a total of 21,630 respondents aged 65-96 years were collected in this study. Demographic characteristics, life habits, perceived health status, anthropometric assessments, and health-related physical fitness measurements from this dataset were analyzed using the chi-square test, one-way analysis of variance, and logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: The results indicated that overweight and obesity significantly associated with health-related physical fitness performance in the Taiwanese older adult population. In particular, the upper extremity muscular endurance scores of older adults with poor activity and physical fitness scores revealed obesity as a critical indicator of health-related physical fitness performance. CONCLUSIONS: Future studies can use muscle quality or body fat classification to predict obesity in older adults, which could more precisely portray the relationship between obesity and health-related physical fitness performance.

Effects of 4-Week Inspiratory Muscle Training on Sport Performance in College 800-Meter Track Runners.

Background and objectives: Respiratory muscle fatigue is one of the important factors limiting sports performance due to the metaboreflex. This reflex will cause a decrease in blood flow to the extremities and accelerate exercising limb fatigue. Previous studies found that inspiratory muscle training (IMT) can effectively enhance the respiratory muscle endurance and reduce fatigue during long-duration exercise or aerobic exercise, thereby enhancing athletic performance. However, the mechanism between inspiratory muscle strength, change of limb blood flow and sports performance still requires investigation, especially in short-duration exercise, anaerobic or both aerobic and anaerobic exercise. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of 4-week inspiratory muscle training on respiratory muscle strength, limb blood flow change rate and sports performance in recreational 800-m college runners. Materials and Methods: Twenty healthy 800-m college runners randomized into the IMT group (11 subjects) and control group (9 subjects). IMT consisted of 30 inspiratory efforts twice daily, 5 days a week, with intensity at 50%, 60%, 70% and 80% of maximum inspiratory pressure (MIP) for 4 weeks, while a control group kept 50% of MIP for 4 weeks. An 800-m trial test, limb blood flow change rate by using Impedance Plethysmography, and MIP were as the outcome measured variables and be evaluated. All measured variables were assessed before and after 4-week IMT training. Two-way ANOVA was conducted for statistical analysis. Results: The results showed significantly interaction between groups and pre-posttest. IMT group significantly decreased limb blood flow change rate from 19.91 ± 11.65% to 9.63 ± 7.62% after received the IMT training program (p < 0.05). The MIP significantly improved from 112.95 ± 27.13 cmH2O to 131.09 ± 28.20 cm H2O in IMT group, and the 800-m trial test also shorted the running time from 162.97 ± 24.96 s to 156.75 ± 20.73 s. But the control group no significantly changed in MIP and 800-m trial test. Conclusions: Our results indicated that the 4-week IMT training (twice a day, 5 days a week) significantly improves participants' inspiratory muscle strength, 800-m running performance and decreases the limb blood flow change rate.

Ubiquinone Supplementation with 300 mg on Glycemic Control and Antioxidant Status in Athletes: A Randomized, Double-Blinded, Placebo-Controlled Trial.

The aim of this study is to investigate the glycemic profile, oxidative stress, and antioxidant capacity in athletes after 12 weeks of ubiquinone supplementation. It was a double-blinded, randomized, parallel, placebo-controlled study. Thirty-one well-trained college athletes were randomly assigned to ubiquinone (300 mg/d, n = 17) or placebo group (n = 14). The glycemic profile [fasting glucose, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), homeostatic model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), quantitative insulin sensitivity check index (QUICKI)], plasma and erythrocyte malondialdehyde (MDA), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), and ubiquinone status were measured. After supplementation, the plasma ubiquinone concentration was significantly increased (p < 0.05) and the level of erythrocyte MDA was significantly lower in the ubiquinone group than in the placebo group (p < 0.01). There was a significant correlation between white blood cell (WBC) ubiquinone and glycemic parameters [HbA1c, r = -0.46, p < 0.05; HOMA-IR, r = -0.67, p < 0.01; QUICKI, r = 0.67, p < 0.01]. In addition, athletes with higher WBC ubiquinone level (≥0.5 nmol/g) showed higher erythrocyte TAC and QUICKI and lower HOMA-IR. In conclusion, we demonstrated that athletes may show a better antioxidant capacity with higher ubiquinone status after 12 weeks of supplementation, which may further improve glycemic control.

The Association between Physical Fitness Performance and Subjective Happiness among Taiwanese Adults.

The purpose of the present study was to determine the association between health-related physical fitness (HRPF) performance and perceived happiness status among adults in Taiwan. A cross-sectional study was conducted, and data derived from the National Physical Fitness Survey in Taiwan 2014-2015 were reviewed. The participants included 27,930 men and 30,885 women, aged 23 to 64 years. Each participant completed a standardized, structured questionnaire and underwent anthropometric variable and HRPF measurements. The happiness outcome of an individual was obtained using the questionnaire, and the results were stratified into happy (very happy, quite happy, and fair) and unhappy (unhappy and not at all happy) groups for perceived happiness status. HRPF measurements were evaluated using cardiorespiratory endurance (3 min step test), muscle strength and endurance (1 min sit-up test), flexibility (sit-and-reach test), and body composition (body mass index (BMI) and waist-to-hip ratio). To determine the existence of a dose-response relationship between HRPF component levels and happiness status, four quartiles of HRPF components were analyzed using multiple logistic regression models. Multiple logistic regression results indicated that with the worst performance level of HRPF components as a baseline, significant associations were observed for the sit-and-reach test (third level: OR = 1.24, 95% CI: 1.02-1.49) and BMI (second level: OR = 0.78, 95% CI: 0.64-0.95) among men. For women, significant associations were observed for the 1 min sit-up test (second level: OR = 1.28, 95% CI: 1.03-1.60; third level: OR = 1.32, 95% CI: 1.04-1.67; fourth (the best) level: OR = 1.48, 95% CI: 1.12-1.95) and BMI (third level: OR = 0.73, 95% CI: 0.58-0.92). The current study suggested that higher values in flexibility and body composition, happiness-related factors, potentially improve the occurrence of happiness among men. Moreover, this positive effect of higher values of muscle strength, endurance, and BMI was observed for the occurrence of happiness in women. However, the relevant mechanism underlying this phenomenon must be further explored.

Poor Physical Fitness Performance as a Predictor of General Adiposity in Taiwanese Adults.

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the association between different levels of health-related physical fitness measurements and obesity status in Taiwanese adults. A cross-sectional study was conducted by reviewing the National Physical Fitness Survey in Taiwan (HPFSIT) database. Responses from 60,056 participants, aged 23-64 years from the database were collected in the present study. Data from a standardized structured questionnaire and health-related physical fitness tests were analyzed. The quartiles of each physical fitness measurement were used for unconditional logistic regression analyses. Our results indicated clear trends in the association between cardiorespiratory fitness and overweight/obesity. Overweight and obesity were associated with a 10% to 60% increased risk of low levels of cardiorespiratory fitness in men and a 10% to almost 30% increased risk in women. However, the association between muscle strength/endurance and obesity status as well as flexibility and obesity status needs further investigation.

The Association between Physical Fitness Performance and Abdominal Obesity Risk among Taiwanese Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study.

The present study aims to investigate the associations between physical fitness performance and abdominal obesity risk among Taiwanese adults. We conducted a cross-sectional study and reviewed the data derived from the National Physical Fitness Survey in Taiwan (HPFSIT). Data from a total of 62,486 respondents aged 23-64 years were collected in this study. The participants completed a standardized structural questionnaire and a series of anthropometric characteristics (body mass index and waist-to-hip ratio) and physical fitness (3-min step tests, 1-min sit-up tests, and sit-and-reach tests) assessments. Waist circumference was used to define abdominal obesity status. A multiple logistic regression analysis was conducted. Our results presented almost entirely significant associations (except for women) on the 3-min step test. Moreover, the results suggest that muscular strength, endurance, and flexibility may be effective predictors of abdominal obesity among men and women, whereas cardiorespiratory fitness predicted abdominal obesity only in men. According to the results of this study, the fitness-abdominal obesity associations are minor based on a mixed population analysis. However, dose-response relationships have been observed. The present study provides a new perspective by using different types of fitness performance to predict abdominal obesity.

Cross-Sectional Associations of Physical Fitness Performance Level and Sleep Duration among Older Adults: Results from the National Physical Fitness Survey in Taiwan.

Research on relationships between physical fitness and sleep duration among older adults is scarce, especially in Taiwanese representative samples of elderly people who undergo physical fitness measurements. This study aimed to determine the associations between physical fitness and short and long sleep durations among older adults in Taiwan. We conducted a cross-sectional study and reviewed data derived from the National Physical Fitness Survey in Taiwan. A total of 24,125 Taiwanese adults aged 65 years and older participated in this study between October 2014 and March 2015. Each individual's sleep duration was recorded with a standard questionnaire method. Sleep duration data were stratified into short (≤5 h), normal (6-7 h), and long (≥8 h) sleep duration groups. Physical fitness was assessed by five components: aerobic endurance (2 min step test), muscle strength and endurance (30 s arm curl and 30 s chair stand tests), flexibility (back scratch and chair sit-and-reach tests), body composition (body mass index (BMI) and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR)), and balance (one-leg stance with eye open and 8-foot up-and-go tests). To understand whether a dose-response relationship exists between physical fitness and short or long sleep duration, we analyzed four levels of performance on the basis of quartiles of physical fitness measurements by using logistic regression. The first quartile of physical fitness performance was the baseline level. The odds ratio (OR) for short sleep duration for the third quartile of BMI was 0.8031 times (95% CI, 0.7119-0.9061) lower than the baseline. For the fourth quartile of BMI, the OR was 0.8660 times (95% CI, 0.7653-0.9800) lower than the baseline. The adjusted OR for long sleep duration significantly decreased in the second, third, and fourth quartiles of the 30 s chair stand, back scratch, chair sit-and-reach test, one-leg stance with one eye open, and BMI. The adjusted OR was increased in the third and fourth quartiles of the 8-foot up-and-go and WHR. The results of the current study suggest that physical fitness performance may influence sleep duration as an associated factor, and the relationship is much stronger for long sleep duration than for short sleep duration.

The Associations between Functional Fitness Test Performance and Abdominal Obesity in Healthy Elderly People: Results from the National Physical Fitness Examination Survey in Taiwan.

The relationships between different functional fitness performance and abdominal obesity among the elderly have not been widely discussed in the literature. The present study aimed to investigate the associations between functional fitness test performance and abdominal obesity in Taiwanese elderly people. A total of 22,399 items of data from the National Physical Fitness Survey Databases in Taiwan (NPFSD 2014-15) were reviewed and analyzed. The quartiles of functional fitness test results were identified as the dependent variable in the multiple linear regression analysis to examine the association between functional fitness and abdominal obesity status. The results showed that body balance (odds ratios (ORs) listed from 1.18 to 2.29, p < 0.05) and flexibility (ORs listed from 1.23 to 2.16, p < 0.05) were critically associated with abdominal obesity. However, measurements related to muscle strength revealed the limited effect sizes for abdominal obesity. From a disability prevention perspective, the development of muscle strength in the elderly should be emphasized and encouraged to maintain their daily capabilities instead of satisfaction with a lean body.

Measuring Athletic Mental Energy (AME): Instrument Development and Validation.

Although considerable research indicates that mental energy is an important factor in many domains, including athletic performance (Cook and Davis, 2006), athletic mental energy (AME) has never been conceptualized and measured. Therefore, the aim of this study was to conceptualize and develop a reliable and valid instrument to assess AME. In Study 1, a focus group interview established the initial framework of AME. Study 2 used a survey to collect athletes' experiences of AME and develop a scale draft titled "Athletic Mental Energy Scale (AMES)." In Study 3, we examined the psychometric properties and the underlying structure of AMES via item analysis, internal consistency, and exploratory factor analysis (EFA). In Study 4, we used confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) to examine AMES's factorial validity; and examined concurrent and discriminant validity by examining correlations with athletes' life stress, positive state of mind, and burnout. In study 5, we examined the measurement invariance of the 6-factor, 18-item AMES with Taiwanese and Malaysian samples. Study 6 examined the predictive validity by comparing AMES scores of successful and unsuccessful martial artists. Across these phases, results showed a 6-factor, 18-item AMES had adequate content validity, factorial structure, nomological validity, discriminant validity, predictive validity, measurement invariance, and reliability. We suggest future studies may use AMES to examine its relationships with athletes' cognition, affect, and performance. The application of AMES in sport psychology was also discussed.