Muscle strength, adiposity, and health-related quality of life in older adults: a cross-sectional study
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.55040/2hmqch29Keywords:
muscle strength;, body composition;, older adults, cross-sectional study, health-related quality of lifeAbstract
Muscle strength is a key factor influencing health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in older adults, yet its relationship with body fat remains understudied. This cross-sectional study examined associations between muscle strength, adiposity, and HRQoL in 253 community-dwelling participants aged 65 years or older from the GMOVE project. Assessments included sociodemographic characteristics, handgrip strength, body composition, and HRQoL measured with the SF-36v2 questionnaire. Linear regression models, adjusted for age, sex, and socioeconomic status, were used to explore the associations. Results showed that higher muscle strength was significantly associated with better HRQoL, independent of body fat levels. Participants with greater strength consistently reported higher HRQoL scores than those with lower strength, regardless of adiposity. These findings highlight the potential importance of maintaining or improving muscle strength to support well-being in older adults. The results suggest that interventions targeting muscle strength may mitigate some negative effects of excess adiposity on HRQoL. Future research should incorporate comprehensive body composition measures, larger samples, and longitudinal designs to clarify causal pathways and inform evidence-based strategies for healthy aging.
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