Whether the COVID-19 pandemic has long-lasting effects on physical activity (PA) and sedentary behavior in the vulnerable older adult population is uncertain. A total of 387 older adults (75 ± 6 years) completed a retrospective questionnaire on time spent sitting, walking, and performing aerobic and muscle-strengthening PA before, during the first three months, and one year into the COVID-19 pandemic. Whether the participants met the aerobic and muscle-strengthening PA guidelines was then determined. Of the 387 older adults, 376 (97%) were vaccinated. The participants completed 361 ± 426, 293 ± 400, and 454 ± 501 min/week of moderate-to-vigorous aerobic PA before, during the first three months, and one year into the pandemic, respectively. During the same time periods, the participants performed muscle-strengthening PA 87 ± 157, 68 ± 163, and 90 ± 176 min/week, walked 2.4 ± 1.7, 2.3 ± 1.7, and 2.6 ± 1.9 h/day, and sat 6.2 ± 2.9, 7.4 ± 3.1, and 6.1 ± 2.9 h/day, respectively. Aerobic PA, muscle-strengthening PA, and walking time decreased, whereas sitting time increased, during the first three months of the pandemic (p < 0.05), and then returned to pre-pandemic levels after one year (p < 0.05). The percentage of participants meeting both aerobic and muscle-strengthening PA guidelines decreased during the first three months of the pandemic (48.9% to 33.5%, p < 0.001), but returned to pre-pandemic levels one year later (p < 0.001). In conclusion, the COVID-19 pandemic significantly decreased PA and increased sitting time in older adults; however, both PA and sitting time returned to pre-pandemic levels after one year.

Objective: To investigate the association between relative grip strength and the prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) independently and in combination with body mass index (BMI) in Korean adults. Methods: The cross-sectional study includes 2,811 men and women (age 40 to 92 years old) with no history of heart disease, stroke, or cancer. Relative grip strength was measured by a handheld dynamometer and calculated by dividing absolute grip strength by body weight. Logistic regression analysis was used to calculate the odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of T2DM by sex-specific quintiles of relative grip strength. In a joint analysis, participants were classified into 4 groups: “weak (lowest 20% quintile one) and normal weight (BMI <25.0 kg/m²)”, “weak and overweight/obese (BMI ≥25.0 kg/m²)”, “strong (upper 80% four quintiles) and normal weight” or “strong and overweight/obese”. Results: Among the 2,811 participants, 371 were identified as having T2DM. Compared with the lowest quintile of relative grip strength (weakest), the ORs (95% CIs) of T2DM were 0.73 (0.53–1.02), 0.68 (0.48–0.97), 0.72 (0.50–1.03), and 0.48 (0.32–0.74) in upper quintiles two, three, four, and five, respectively, after adjusting for BMI and other potential confounders. In the joint analysis, compared with the “weak and overweight/obese” reference group, the odds of T2DM [ORs (95% CIs)] was lower in the “strong and overweight/obese” group [0.65 (0.46–0.92)] and the “strong and normal weight” group [0.49 (0.35–0.67)], after adjusting for potential confounders. Conclusion: In this cross-sectional study, greater relative grip strength was associated with a lower prevalence of T2DM independent of BMI in Korean adults. Additional prospective studies are needed to determine whether a causal association exists between relative grip strength and T2DM prevalence considering BMI.

This study investigated the effects of core strengthening exercise (CSE) on colon transit time (CTT) in young adult women. Eighty women (mean age 23 years) were enrolled and randomly assigned to participate in a 12-week, instructor-led group CSE program (CSE group [CSEG]; n = 40) or to maintain usual daily activities (control group [CG]; n = 40). 27 participants in the CSEG and 21 participants in the CG completed the study. The CSE program consisted of 60-min sessions, two days a week, for 12 weeks. CTT was measured using a multiple marker technique with a radio-opaque marker. Data were analyzed with a 2-way, repeated measures ANCOVA. After the 12-week intervention, The CSEG showed significant improvements in trunk flexor power (P = 0.031), peak torque (P = 0.032), and endurance (P = 0.011). The CSEG also showed improvements in the sit-up (P < 0.001) and side-step (P = 0.043) tests compared to the CG. While there was not a significant group difference between the CSEG and CG, left CTT (P = 0.021) and total CTT (P = 0.006) decreased significantly within the CSEG group only. The 12-week CSE program increased abdominal strength but did not improve CTT compared to the control group. This study also provides preliminary data that CSE may reduce left CTT and total CTT, but additional clinical trials are needed.

Increasing daily steps by an additional 3000 steps/day on 5 days/week equates to ~150 min/week of aerobic physical activity to meet the physical activity guidelines; however, its effectiveness for blood pressure control in older adults with hypertension is unknown. A 20-week, single-arm, pilot e-health lifestyle walking intervention was conducted in 21 sedentary older adults (73 ± 5 years old) with hypertension (13 female, 8 male) to investigate the effectiveness of increasing daily steps by an additional 3000 steps/day for blood pressure control. The intervention consisted of two phases, with behavior change assistance provided during the first active phase (weeks 1–10) to help reach step goals and minimal assistance provided during the second self-maintenance phase (weeks 11–20). Nineteen participants (91%) completed both the 10- and 20-week assessments. The participants wore the pedometer for ≥10 h on 97% of the days over 20 weeks. They significantly increased average steps/day from 3899 ± 2198 at baseline to 6512 ± 2633 at 10 weeks and 5567 ± 2587 at 20 weeks. After 20 weeks, both systolic (137 ± 10 to 130 ± 11 mm Hg, p < 0.001) and diastolic (81 ± 6 to 77 ± 6 mm Hg, p = 0.01) blood pressure improved. The response was consistent in participants with (n = 8) and without (n = 13) anti-hypertensive medication. The results of our lifestyle walking intervention are encouraging for reducing blood pressure in older adults with hypertension; however, larger randomized, controlled trials need to be performed to confirm these findings.

Background: The association between muscular strength (MS) and prevalent gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) in the older adults is not well established.Methods: This study included 542 older adults with no history of myocardial infarction, stroke, or cancer. MS was measured by handgrip dynamometry. Participants were categorized into sex-specific quartiles of MS, while cases of GERD were identified by self-reported physician diagnosis. Logistic regression was used to calculate the odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals of GERD by quartiles of MS.Results: There were 112 GERD cases. Compared with the first quartile of MS, the odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) of GERD were 0.50 (0.27–0.95), 0.39 (0.20–0.75), and 0.55 (0.29–1.04) in the second, third, and fourth quartiles of MS, respectively, after adjusting for possible confounders including body mass index. In a joint analysis of MS and body mass index, participants were dichotomized into weak (first MS quartile) or strong (upper 3 MS quartiles) and normal weight, overweight, or obese. Compared with the weak–obese group, odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) were 0.34 (0.14–0.80), 0.43 (0.16–1.13), 0.29 (0.12–0.68), 0.18 (0.06–0.55), and 0.07 (0.03–0.21) for the strong–obese, weak–overweight, strong–overweight, weak–normal weight, and strong–normal weight.Conclusions: MS was independently and inversely associated with GERD in older adults.

Examine the independent and joint associations of cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and body mass index (BMI) with the prevalence of diverticulitis in older adults. 476 older adults (61% Female; 71 ± 5 years) with no history of myocardial infarction, stroke, cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, or diabetes were included in this cross-sectional study. Diverticulitis cases were identified by self-reported physician diagnosis from the medical history questionnaire. Logistic regression was used to calculate the odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of the prevalence of diverticulitis by tertiles of CRF and BMI category. CRF and BMI were further dichotomized into either “unfit” (the lowest one-third of CRF), “fit” (the upper two-thirds of CRF), “overweight/obese” (BMI ≥25.0 kg/m²), or “normal-weight” (BMI <25.0 kg/m²) to investigate the joint association of CRF and BMI with diverticulitis. Thirty-five (7.4%) participants were identified as having diverticulitis. Compared with the lowest CRF tertile, the ORs (95% CIs) of diverticulitis were 0.52 (0.22–1.22) and 0.33 (0.12–0.94) in the middle and upper CRF tertiles, respectively, after adjusting for potential confounders. After further adjustment for BMI, the association was no longer significant with ORs (95% CIs) of 0.55 (0.23–1.33) and 0.37 (0.12–1.10) in middle and upper CRF tertiles, respectively. Compared with the normal-weight group, the ORs (95% CIs) of diverticulitis were 2.86 (1.05–7.79) and 2.98 (0.95–9.35) in the overweight and obese groups, respectively, after adjusting for possible confounders and CRF. Compared with the “unfit and overweight/obese” group in the joint analysis, the OR (95% CI) of diverticulitis was 0.16 (0.04–0.61) in the “fit and normal-weight” group. Older adults who maintain higher CRF and lower BMI may have significantly lower odds of diverticulitis, with the lowest odds found in the normal-weight and fit older adults.