Correlation between Body Composition and Physical Performance in Aged People

Background: With age, body composition often changes with functional limitations in elderly adults. What kind of body composition evaluation method had better correlation with physical capacity is unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the correlation between body composition and physical capacity aged people. Methods: 56 males (mean age, 63.60 ± 7.24 years) and 64 females (mean age, 63.27 ± 7.23 years) were enrolled in this cross-sectional study during January and December 2016. Body composition was measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA). Physical performance was evaluated using the timed up-and-go, open eye single-leg stance, timed chair-rise, and 10-m walk speed tests. The association was analysed by Pearson test. Results: In elderly female participants, the fat percentage obtained using DXA was found to be associated with the single-leg stance (r = −0.306, p < 0.05), timed chair-rise (r = −0.318, p < 0.05), and timed up-and-go (r = 0.252, p < 0.05) test results. Moreover, lean mass percentage obtained using DXA was associated with the single-leg stance (r = 0.312, p < 0.05) and timed chair-rise (r = 0.294, p < 0.05) tests. But no association was found between BIA body composition and physical performance. The body composition by BIA and DXA were unassociated with physical performance in male and total participants. Conclusions: DXA analysis for body fat percentage is negatively associated and muscle mass percentage is positively associated with physical capacity in women older than 50 years, but not in their male counterparts.