Determination of somatotype and physical activity level in frailty older adults

Seventy-two older adults were divided into two groups: frail (F = 33) and non-frail (NF = 39). Frailty status was determined using the Tilburg Frailty Indicator (TFI), somatotype using the Heath and Carter method, and physical activity by the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ).

Results:

Somatotype analysis showed a predominance of endomorphy (F = 6.54 ± 1.65 vs NF = 6.12 ± 2.07 p ≤ 0.350) followed by mesomorphy (F = 3.44 ± 1.62 vs NF = 3.15 ± 2.19, p ≤ 0.531) and ectomorphy (F = 0.82 ± 0.99 vs NF = 0.95 ± 0.86 p ≤ 0.163), but no significant differences were observed between groups. Regarding PA, twenty-eight participants (84.7%) of the F group were classified as sedentary and insufficiently active and twenty-one (53.8%) of NF were classified as active and very active. This difference in PA explains the higher total energy expenditure found in NF (median 1,087.43; IAQ = 3,954.30) when compared to F (median = 0.0; IAQ = 462.64 p ≤ 0.001). The frailty group presented a higher endomorphic component as well as lower levels of physical activity and energy expenditure.

Conclusion:

Endomorphy was the predominant somatotype in F and NF older adults, followed by mesomorphy and actomorphy this profile can affect activities of daily living, functional capacity, and independent living and be associated with chronic diseases.

Keywords
frailty; somatotype; older adults; physical activity

Variables	F (n = 33)	NF (n = 39)	95% CI	p-value	Cohen d
Age (yrs)	74.4 ± 10.6	73.2 ± 10.2	−3.7-6.1	0.59	0.12
Body mass (kg)	66.8 ± 12.6	67.2 ± 10.1	−5.84-5.04	0.86	−0.04
Height (m)	1.60 ± 0.1	1.57 ± 0.1	−0.02-0.08	0.17	−0.30
BMI (kg/m²)	27.1 ± 4.4	26.3 ± 4.0	−1.19-2.79	0.31	0.19
%BF	32.3 ± 7.1	30.5 ± 8.4	−1.84-5.44	0.33	0.23
TIF	7.2 ± 1.9	2.0 ± 1.5	4.38-6.02	< 0.001^*	3.07

Variables	F (n = 33)	NF (n = 39)	95% CI	p-value	Cohen's d
Endo	6.54 ± 1.65	6.09 ± 2.05	5.95-7.13	0.32	0.24
Meso	3.44 ± 1.62	3.13 ± 2.16	2.87-4.01	0.50	0.16
Ecto	0.82 ± 0.98	0.98 ± 0.88	0.47-1.18	0.23	−0.17

Variables	F (n = 33) Median (IQR)	NF (n = 39) Median (IQR)	p-value
Walking (kcal/week)	0.0 (337.34)	0.0 (815.57)	0.371
Moderate activity (kcal/week)	0.0 (0.0)	20.0 (1271.02)	0.002*
Vigorous activity (kcal/week)	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (941.50)	0.025*
Total (kcal/week)	0.0 (462.64)	1087.43 (3954.30)	< 0.001*

Classification	F (n = 33)	NF (n = 39)
Sedentary	18 (54.5%)	11 (28.2%)
Insulficient active A	4 (12.1%)	4 (10.3%)
Insulficient active B	6 (18.2%)	4 (10.3%)
Active	2 (6.1%)	12 (30.8%)
Very active	3 (9.1%)	8 (20.5%)

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E-mail: motriz.rc@unesp.br

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[1] Associate editor: Eduardo Lusa Cadore0000-0003-4397-9485, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil. E-mail: edcadore@yahoo.com.br.