Performance analysis of women over 55 years on abdominaltests: impact of anthropometry and flexibility

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effect of anthropometric variables and flexibility on the performance of women aged 55+ years on abdominal test protocols. The sample was composed by 20 physically active volunteers, aged 55 years (median 61), who were participants in gymnastic activities program. Each volunteer performed two abdominal tests: partial trunk flexion with a 7.6 cm sliding of the hands (P1) and partial flexion of the trunk with the hands on the thighs (P2), both executed with the feet resting on the ground. For analysis, the number of correct executions (final position) was considered in each test, as recommended by the authors. Measurements of body mass, flexibility, height, waist and hip perimeters, subjective perception of exertion, and calculations of body mass index and waist-hip ratio were performed. The perception of abdominal effort, and discomfort or pain in the cervical and lumbar region were also evaluated. The results showed that there were no statistically significant associations between the analyzed indicators (Age: P1: rs = -0.024, p = 0.916; P2: rs = -0.194, p = 0.407; BMI: P1: rs =-0.064, p = 0.792; P2: rs = -0.235, p= 0.327; Waist Circumference: P1: rs = -0.143, p = 0.563; P2: rs = 0.027, p = 0.908; Flexibility: r s= -0.327, p = 0.169; P2: rs = 0.0009, p = 0.991; Hip waist ratio: P1: rs = -0.209, p = 0.371; P2: rs = 0.217, p = 0.353) and the performance on the tests. In addition, 35% of the participants made valid attempts on P1 while 45% produced at least one valid attempt on P2. It was concluded that both abdominal tests were adequate for the studied sample and they can be applied to adult and elderly women to assess their abdominal musculature.(AU)

El objetivo del presente estudio fue evaluar el efecto de las variables las antropométricas y la flexibilidad sobre el desempeño de mujeres mayores de 55 años en protocolos de testes abdominales. La muestra, seleccionada por criterio de accesibilidad, estuvo formada por 20 voluntarias físicamente activas, mayores de 55 años (mediana 61), que participaban en actividades gimnásticas para personas mayores. Cada voluntaria realizó dos pruebas abdominales: flexión parcial del tronco con deslizamiento de las manos de 7,6 cm (P1) y flexión parcial del tronco con las manos en los muslos (P2), ambas ejecutadas con los pies apoyados en el suelo. Para el análisis, se consideró el número de ejecuciones correctas (posición final) en cada prueba, según lo recomendado por los autores. Se realizaron mediciones de masa corporal, flexibilidad, altura, perímetro de cintura y cadera, percepción subjetiva del esfuerzo y cálculos del índice de masa corporal y la relación cintura-cadera. También se evaluó la percepción de esfuerzo abdominal y de malestar o dolor en la región cervical y lumbar. Los resultados mostraron que no hubo asociaciones estadísticamente significativas entre las variables analizadas (Edad: P1: rs = -0,024, p = 0,916; P2: rs = -0,194, p = 0,407; IMC: P1: rs =-0,064, p = 0,792; P2: rs = -0,235, p = 0,327; Perímetro de cintura: P1: rs = -0,143, p = 0,563; P2: rs = 0,027, p = 0,908; Flexibilidad: rs = -0,327, p = 0,169; P2: rs = 0,0009, p = 0,991; Relación cintura/cadera: P1: rs = -0,209, p = 0,371; P2: rs = 0,217, p = 0,353) y el desempeño en las pruebas, y el 35% de las participantes hicieron intentos válidos en P1 mientras que el 45% produjo al menos un intento válido en P2. Se concluyó que ambas pruebas abdominales fueron adecuadas para la muestra estudiada y se pueden aplicar a mujeres adultas y mayores para evaluar su musculatura abdominal.(AU)

Body image disorders associated with lifestyle and body composition of female adolescents.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association between body image disorders and the lifestyle and body composition of female adolescents. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: The Body Shape Questionnaire (BSQ) and Silhouette Scale and Sociocultural Attitudes Towards Appearance Questionnaire-3 were used to evaluate the participants' body image. Body composition was evaluated by a Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry equipment, and lifestyles were identified by latent class analysis (LCA) using the poLCA package for R. PARTICIPANTS: Female adolescents aged 14-19 years old, in the city of Viçosa-MG, Brazil. RESULTS: In total, 405 girls participated in the study. Almost half of the participants were dissatisfied with their current physical appearance (51·4 %), presented body perception distortions (52·9 %). 47·3 % of the adolescents were dissatisfied with their body according to the BSQ, and another 8 % severely so. Subjects with an 'Inactive and Sedentary' latent lifestyle were 1·71 times as likely to feel dissatisfied as those with active and sedentary or inactive and non-sedentary lifestyles (95 % CI 1·08, 2·90, P = 0·047). Body image disorders showed an association with decreased amounts of moderate and vigorous physical activity, high screen time, increased alcohol consumption and excess body fat. CONCLUSIONS: Particular patterns of lifestyle and body composition seem to be associated in female adolescents with dissatisfaction with, distortion of and excessive concern about appearance. Specifically, physical inactivity, sedentary behaviour, alcohol consumption and high body fat percentage may be strongly linked to body image disorders.

Clinical-nutritional, inflammatory and oxidative stress predictors in hemodialysis mortality: a review / Predictores clínico-nutricionales, inflamatorios y de estrés oxidativo en la mortalidad por hemodiálisis: una revisión

The evaluation of clinical-nutrition status is essential to increase life quality and improve clinical outcomes of patients in hemodialysis (HD). In the absence of a gold standard, the goal of this integrative review was to present and discuss the latest scientific literature on the ability of clinical-nutritional indicators and inflammatory and oxidative stress markers to predict morbidity and mortality in HD. In this context, the lean and fat mass indexes have become good predictors of mortality in HD individuals, regardless of BMI. Subjective scoring systems have been more sensitive to malnutrition, and altogether anthropometric indicators may result in an early detection of mortality risk in this population. On the other hand, inflammation in HD, as assessed by C-reactive protein, is not only related to cardiometabolic alterations, but it is also one of the key-points in the development of malnutrition, exacerbated by the state of oxidative stress, which has been identified in this group by the increase of the serum levels of gamma-glutamyl transferase and malondialdehyde

La evaluación del estado clínico-nutricional es esencial para aumentar la calidad de vida y mejorar los resultados clínicos de los pacientes en hemodiálisis (HD). En ausencia de un patrón oro, el objetivo de esta revisión integrativa fue presentar y discutir la literatura científica más reciente sobre la capacidad de indicadores clínico-nutricionales, y marcadores de estrés oxidativo e inflamatorio, en la predicción de morbilidad y mortalidad en HD. En este contexto, los índices de masa grasa y grasa se han convertido en buenos predictores de mortalidad en individuos con HD, independientemente del IMC. Los sistemas de puntuación subjetiva han sido más sensibles a la desnutrición y, en conjunto, los indicadores antropométricos pueden resultar en una detección temprana del riesgo de mortalidad en esta población. Por otro lado, la inflamación en HD, evaluada por la proteína C reactiva, no solo se relaciona con alteraciones cardiometabólicas, sino que también es uno de los puntos clave en el desarrollo de la desnutrición, exacerbada por el estado de estrés oxidativo, que ha sido identificado en este grupo por el aumento de los niveles séricos de gamma-glutamil transferasa y malondialdehído

Anthropometric patterns of adiposity, hypertension and diabetes mellitus in older adults of Viçosa, Brazil: A population-based study.

AIM: To identify anthropometric patterns of adiposity and estimate their association with hypertension and diabetes mellitus (DM) in older adults. METHODS: A cross-sectional study with 537 older adults aged ≥60 years was carried out. Weight, height, and waist, hip and calf circumference were measured. The following indices were calculated: a body shape index, body roundness index, conicity index, body adiposity index, body mass index, waist-to-height ratio, waist-to-calf ratio, waist-to-hip ratio and waist-to-hip-to-height ratio. The anthropometric patterns of adiposity were obtained by factor analysis of principal components, and their association with hypertension and DM was identified by multiple Poisson regression with robust variance. RESULTS: Two anthropometric patterns of adiposity were identified. Pattern 1 and 2 explained approximately 53% and 33% of the total variance, respectively, in both sexes. Pattern 1 indicated of global adiposity, and weight, body mass index and hip circumference were the variables most strongly correlated with this pattern in both sexes. Pattern 2 represented the body fat distribution, being a body shape index the most important variable in this factor. After adjustment by confounding factors, only the pattern 2 remained significantly associated with DM in women. CONCLUSIONS: Only the anthropometric pattern of adiposity central was associated with DM in older women. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2018; 18: 584-591.

Effect of a short-term exercise program on glycemic control measured by fructosamine test in type 2 diabetes patients.

BACKGROUND: Glycated hemoglobin (A1C) and Fasting Plasma Glucose (FPG) are the two monitoring blood glucose tests most frequently used. However, both methods are shown to be insensitive to detect glycemic variations in short duration periods. Therefore, we aimed to assess the effect of a short-term exercise program on glycemic levels measured by fructosamine concentrations in type 2 diabetes patients. METHODS: Eight volunteers (51.1 ± 8.2 years) underwent a supervised exercise program during eight weeks (3 d.wk-1, 50-60% of VO2 peak for 30-60 minutes). The body composition, VO2 peak, A1C, FPG, fructosamine and capillary blood glucose (CBG) were evaluated. We used ANOVA - One Way for repeated measures followed by Tukey post-hoc test and paired t test. P values <0.05 were considered significant. RESULTS: We found statistical differences on the concentrations of fructosamine, VO2 peak and CBG. However, A1C and FPG showed no statistical difference. Fructosamine declined by 15% (57 µmol/L) between the beginning and the end of the study. Individually, 50% of the sample reached the reference values for the normality in fructosamine test. VO2 peak increased by 14.8% (3.8 ml.kg-1.min-1) and CBG decreased on an average of 34.4% (69.3 mg/dL). CONCLUSIONS: Fructosamine test is effective in the evaluation of glucose with type 2 diabetes patients when undergoing a short exercise program, alternatively to the traditional A1C and FPG assessment. Our results are relevant in clinical practice, because the significant improvement in glycemic status can help to evaluate the inclusion of exercise as adjunct therapy to replace the prescription of additional drugs in poorly controlled patients.