Assessment of Age-Induced Changes in Body Fat Percentage and BMI Aided by Bayesian Modelling: A Cross-Sectional Cohort Study in Middle-Aged and Older Adults

Abstract

Pawel Macek,1,2 Malgorzata Terek-Derszniak,3 Malgorzata Biskup,1,3 Halina Krol,1,4 Jolanta Smok-Kalwat,5 Stanislaw Gozdz,1,5 Marek Zak1 1Institute of Health Sciences, Collegium Medicum, The Jan Kochanowski University, Kielce, Poland; 2Department of Epidemiology and Cancer Control, Holycross Cancer Centre, Kielce, Poland; 3Department of Rehabilitation, Holycross Cancer Centre, Kielce, Poland; 4Research and Education Department, Holycross Cancer Centre, Kielce, Poland; 5Clinical Oncology Clinic, Holycross Cancer Centre, Kielce, PolandCorrespondence Marek ZakThe Institute of Health Sciences, Collegium Medicum, The Jan Kochanowski University, Ul. Zeromskiego 5, Kielce 25-369, PolandTel ([phone]Fax [phone]Email [email protected]: Loss of fat-free mass (FFM) and gain in body fat (BF) are the key disability risk factors, also instrumental in perpetuating already existing functional disorders. Obesity construed in terms of body mass index (BMI) values, in view of undesirable gain in BF, is a risk factor for cardio-metabolic disorders. Both detrimental processes clearly evidence a scope of involutionary changes characteristic of an aging population, also standing for one of its greatest burdens.Purpose: The present study aimed to assess the changes in body composition (BC), in conjunction with the relationship between BF% and BMI, for defining overweight and obesity status in middle-aged and older adults, against the select indicator variables under study.Materials and Methods: The study involved 4799 individuals (33.7% men), PONS Project participants, aged 43– 64 years. BF% was measured with the aid of bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) method. Age-induced changes in BC were determined against BF%, fat mass (FM), FFM, BMI, fat mass index (FMI), and fat-free mass index (FFMI). The relationship between BF% and BMI was established with the aid of Bayesian regression models, adjusted for gender and age.Results: In both genders, BF% increased with age at a similar annual rate. The reduction of FFM was noted mainly in men, which in conjunction with BF% gain ensured BMI stability. The increase in BF% in women with stable FFM affected an increase in BMI. Regardless of the BMI threshold, the anticipated (predicted) BF% increased with age in both genders.Conclusion: Monitoring of BC is of particular importance in older adults, in view of appreciably better characteristics of both the short- and long-term health predictors, as well as overall potential for developing specifically targeted, effective health interventions.Keywords: age, body fat percentage, body mass index, body composition, obesity, public health

Keywords

• age
• body fat percentage
• body mass index
• body composition
• obesity
• public health