Association between grip strength and anthropometric characteristics in the community-dwelling elderly population in Taiwan.

BACKGROUND: Sarcopenia and muscle weakness in elderly are contributed burden of public health and impact on quality of life. Weak grip strength was key role in diagnosis of sarcopenia and reported increased mortality, function declined in elderly. This study evaluated the association between GS and each common anthropometric characteristic in community-dwelling elderly. DESIGN AND METHOD: From 2017 to 2019, we conducted a community-based health survey among the elderly in Chiayi county, Taiwan. Participants were 65 years old or older, and total of 3,739 elderly subjects (1,600 males and 2,139 females) with a mean age of 76 years (range 65-85 years old) were recruited. General demographic data and lifestyle patterns were measured using a standard questionnaire. Anthropometric characteristics such as body height, body weight, body mass index (BMI), body waist and hip circumference, and body fat were measured by standard methods. GS was measured using a digital dynamometers (TKK5101) method. RESULTS: The mean GS was 32.8 ± 7.1 kg for males and 21.6 ± 4.8 kg for females (p < 0.001). For both sexes, elderly subjects with the same body weight but smaller body waist circumference had greater GS. The subjects with the same body waist size but heavier weight had greater GS. Furthermore, after adjusting for age, lifestyles, disease status, and potential anthropometric variable, multivariate regression analyses indicated that BMI was positively associated with GS (for males, beta = 0.310 and for females beta = 0.143, both p < 0.001) and body waist was negatively associated with GS (for males, beta = -0.108, p < 0.001; for females, beta = -0.030, p = 0.061). CONCLUSIONS: This study suggested that old adults with higher waist circumstance had weaker GS. Waist circumstance was negatively associated with GS, body weight was positively associated with GS in contrast. It may implies that central obesity was more important than overweight for GS in elderly.

Relationship of Multimorbidity, Obesity Status, and Grip Strength among Older Adults in Taiwan.

Background: The combination of multiple disease statuses, muscle weakness, and sarcopenia among older adults is an important public health concern, and a health burden worldwide. This study evaluates the association between chronic disease statuses, obesity, and grip strength (GS) among older adults in Taiwan. Methods: A community-based survey was conducted every 3 years among older adults over age 65, living in Chiayi County, Taiwan. Demographic data and several diseases statuses, such as diabetes mellitus, hypertension, cerebrovascular disease, cardiovascular disease, and certain cancers, were collected using a questionnaire. Anthropometric characteristics were measured using standard methods. Grip strength was measured using a digital dynamometer (TKK5101) method. Results: A total of 3739 older individuals were recruited (1600 males and 2139 females) with the mean age of 72.9 years. The mean GS was 32.8 ± 7.1 kg for males and 21.6 ± 4.8 kg for females. GS significantly decreased most in males with cerebrovascular disease (from 33.0-29.5 kg, p < 0.001) and in females with diabetes mellitus (from 21.8-21.0 kg, p < 0.01). GS was highest in older adults with obesity (body mass index ≥ 27 kg/m2); however, there was no significant change of GS as the disease number increased. Conclusion: Older adults who have two, rather than one or greater than three chronic diseases, have significantly lower GSs than those who are healthy. Stroke and CKD for males, and hypertension and diabetes for females, are important chronic diseases that are significantly associated with GS. Furthermore, being overweight may be a protective factor for GS in older adults of both sexes.

Perceived physical literacy instrument for adolescents: A further validation of PPLI.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to examine the reliability and validity of "Perceived Physical Literacy Instrument" (PPLI) questionnaire in adolescents. METHODS: Based on physical literacy literature, a 9-item instrument was developed for initial tests. The self-report measure was administered to 1945 adolescents in Hong Kong. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was used to examine a three-factor structure of physical literacy. A chi-square difference test analysed several competing models and compared the results between the proposed models (i.e., a three-factor solution) and other alternative models (i.e., a one-factor or two-factor solution). Furthermore, the measurement invariance across gender groups was examined by using multiple-group confirmatory factor analysis. Mean scores for physical literacy factors were also examined by demographic characteristics. RESULTS: Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) showed that the construct demonstrated a good fit to the model. For convergent validity, our results, evaluating the factor loading of each items, the values of composite reliability (CR) and the average variance extracted (AVE) of the three factors, revealed that the three-factor validity of physical literacy was satisfactory. The chi-square difference test between models was significant indicating that all the latent variables had satisfactory discriminant validity. Moreover, the findings of measurement invariance showed that the PPLI is invariant across gender. CONCLUSIONS: The PPLI thus appeared to be reliable and valid as a measure of the perceived physical literacy of adolescents. Thus, along with other validated instruments, protocols and research designs, the PPLI could be widely used to test adolescents' self-perception of physical literacy and their own physical and mental health conditions and thereby health. Physical education professionals may thus recommend appropriate intervention programmes for younger generations.

Construction and Validation of a Perceived Physical Literacy Instrument for Physical Education Teachers.

The purpose of this study was to construct and validate a "Perceived Physical Literacy Instrument" (PPLI) for physical education teachers. Based on literature review and focus group interviews, an 18-item instrument was developed for the initial tests. This self-report measure, using a 5-point Likert scale, formed the PPLI and was administered to 336 physical education teachers in Hong Kong. The sample was randomly split, and exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses resulted in a 9-item, 3-factor scale. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) item loadings ranged from 0.69 to 0.87, and Cronbach's alpha ranged from 0.73 to 0.76. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) showed that the construct demonstrated good fit to the model. The PPLI thus appeared to be reliable and valid to measure the perceived physical literacy of physical education teachers. It is argued that the instrument can be used for both research and applied purposes and potential uses for the instrument in physical education, medical and health settings are discussed.