Body composition and quality of life (QoL) of the elderly offered by the “University Third Age” (UTA) in Brazil

Abstract The investigation of the factors that interfere in the well-being of the elderly and their QoL can provide theoretical and methodological subsidies in structuring actions and policies in the health area, in order to fulfill the needs of that population. In this descriptive transversal study...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Archives of gerontology and geriatrics 2011-01, Vol.52 (1), p.e31-e35
Main Authors: Sonati, Jaqueline G, Modeneze, Dênis M, Vilarta, Roberto, Maciel, Érika S, Boccaletto, Estela M.A, da Silva, Cleliani C
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Age Factors
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Body Composition
Body Height
Body Mass Index
Body Weight
Brazil
Brazil - epidemiology
Composition
Elderly people
Female
Humans
Internal Medicine
Motor Activity
Physical activity
Quality of Life
Quality of life (QoL) of elderly
Statistics, Nonparametric
University Third Age (UTA)
Waist Circumference
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Summary:Abstract The investigation of the factors that interfere in the well-being of the elderly and their QoL can provide theoretical and methodological subsidies in structuring actions and policies in the health area, in order to fulfill the needs of that population. In this descriptive transversal study, body composition and QoL of elderly women at the UTA program in Piracicaba (São Paulo, Brazil) were verified. The participants were 81 women from UTA, and the general levels of physical activity were evaluated, as well as body weight (BW), height, and body mass index (BMI). The waist circumference (WC) was measured at the level of the umbilical scar and the body composition by impedance (BIA 310e). QoL was verified by means of WHOQOL-Bref and statistical analysis developed with the SAS program . The decrease of weight, height, BMI, and fat-free mass (FFM) was observed among the several age groups, although with no significant difference. The average levels of the general QoL scores and physical, psychological and environmental domains decreased in higher age groups, but social domains showed the opposite result. This fact can be a particular characteristic of the UTA group, and factors the influence such behavior are yet to be studied.
ISSN:0167-4943
1872-6976
DOI:10.1016/j.archger.2010.04.010