Habitual and Low-Impact Activities are Associated with Better Bone Outcomes and Lower Body Fat in Older Women

• Published in: Calcified tissue international 2008-10, Vol.83 (4), p.260-271
• Main Authors: Ilich, Jasminka Z., Brownbill, Rhonda A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adipose Tissue - physiology; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Anthropometry; Biochemistry; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Body fat; Body Mass Index; Bone and Bones - physiology; Bone Density; Calcium - urine; Cell Biology; Endocrinology; Exercise; Feeding Behavior - physiology; Female; Housework; Humans; Life Sciences; Longitudinal Studies; Middle Aged; Motor Activity - physiology; Older people; Orthopedics; Prospective Studies; Sodium - urine; Women
• ISSN: 0171-967X; 1432-0827
• DOI: 10.1007/s00223-008-9171-0

The influence of habitual and low-impact physical activity (PA) on bone health and soft tissue including bone-free lean (BFL) and fat mass is less elucidated than the influence of high-impact activities. This study examines the interactive effects of PA and soft tissue on bone mineral density (BMD) and content (BMC) in healthy Caucasian women, aged 68.6 ± 7.1 years, with body mass index (BMI) of 26.0 ± 3.8 kg/m 2 evaluated at baseline and every 6 months for 3 years. Measurements/assessments included BMD/BMC and soft tissue (by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry), anthropometrics, dietary intake, and PA. Activities assessed were past activity, present heavy housework, gardening, do-it-yourself activities, stair-climbing, walking, walking pace, sports/recreation, and total activity. Baseline analyses revealed significant positive associations between past activity, heavy housework, faster-paced walking, BFL, and BMD/BMC of various skeletal sites. Prospective analyses showed subjects with more walking hours/week had significantly higher BMD/BMC of several skeletal sites ( P