EVOLUTION OF PHYSICAL FITNESS, ANTHROPOMETRY AND BODY COMPOSITION IN AGING

Abstract

The objectives of this study were to compare the evolution of anthropometry, body composition and physical fitness of physically inactive men and women according to age group, and discuss the possible differences in this trend between men and women. The sample was 78 men and 211 women, age over 40 years, divided in four groups accordance with the age group (40-50, 51-60, 61-70, and more 70 years). The men showed maintenance of the anthropometric and body composition in accordance with the age evolution, whereas in the women there is a significant increase of these variables, especially after 50 years. Both men and women showed meaning impairment in strength and aerobic fitness, notwithstanding dissimilar mode. The agility impairment in both sex, although not meaning in men. Only the men exhibit meaning impairment in flexibility. Our results suggest that men and women have better anthropometric, body composition and physical fitness of the younger ages to more advanced, with different characteristics by gender as their evolution over time.