Physical Function and Body Composition in Obese Women in a Clinical Weight Loss Program

Obesity continues to be a problem to society, having a major impact on both public health and the economy. Impaired physical function and mobility impairments, although normally associated with older adults has been increasing in younger individuals, particularly in obese women, as obesity is the leading modifiable risk factor for poor functional performance. Therefore the purpose of this study was to determine the association of physical function assessments, which are used to objectively measure functional health, and body composition measures in young to middle aged obese women (range=24-57 years). A total of n=15 women were recruited, with an average BMI in the upper range of category II obesity (mean BMI=39.1±5.2). Body composition was measured (DXA) and 5 physical function and strength measures were obtained (gait speed, chair rise time, VO2peak, grip strength, and 1-RM leg press). Pearson product correlations among physical function tasks and body composition measures were examined. Gait speed was not significantly correlated with any body composition component or other physical function measures. Chair rise time was significantly and positively correlated with all body composition measures and negatively correlated with VO2peak (r=-0.558, p=0.031). VO2peak was significantly and negatively correlated with body fat mass assessments, but was not correlated with fat free mass. 1-repetition maximum leg press was significantly and negatively associated with fat mass (%)(r=-0.552, p=0.033) and was significantly and positively correlated with VO2peak (r=0.680, p=0.005). Thus, it appears that increased fat mass was correlated with impaired physical function in most performance tasks, and having higher body fat free mass did not seem to improve function. These data contribute to the literature due to the use of DXA for body composition assessment, having multiple objective measures of physical function, and using a young to middle-age cohort of women.

Grantor dc:publisher

Wake Forest University

Year dc:date.issued

2014

Author dc:creator

• Combs, Sandy William

• body composition

Language dc:language.iso

en

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/10339/39316

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:wakespace.lib.wfu.edu:10339/39316