Background: Reliable obesity assessment is essential in evaluating the risk of cardiovascular risk factors (CRFs). Non-availability of clearly defined cut-offs for body fat percentage (BF%), as well as a widespread application of surrogate measures for obesity assessment, may result in incorrect prediction of cardio-metabolic risk. Purpose: The study aimed to determine optimal cut-off points for BF%, with a view of predicting the CRFs related to obesity. Patients and Methods: The study involved 4735 (33.6% of men) individuals, the Polish-Norwegian Study (PONS) participants, aged 45– 64. BF% was measured with the aid of bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) method. The gender-specific cut-offs of BF% were found with respect to at least one CRF. A P-value approach, and receiver operating characteristic curve analyses were pursued for BF% cut-offs, which optimally differentiated normal from the risk groups. The associations between BF% and CRFs were determined by logistic regression models. Results: The cut-offs for BF% were established as 25.8% for men and 37.1% for women. With the exception of dyslipidemia, in men and women whose BF% was above the cut-offs, the odds for developing CRFs ranged 2– 4 times higher than those whose BF% was below the cut-offs. Conclusion: Controlling BF% below the thresholds indicating an increased health hazard may be instrumental in appreciably reducing overall exposure to developing cardio-metabolic risk.

Background: 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.

Objective The study was designed to address the following three key areas, that is, (1) evaluate overall level of physical activity in the residents of a mid-sized, Central-European city, (2) compliance level with WHO’s recommendations on physical activity in leisure time and (3) actual impact of select socioeconomic factors on the physical activity level within the study population. Methods Assessment of the source data collected for 4619 participants (1532 men and 3087 women, aged 45–65 years; mean age 56.41±5.31 years) was completed. Three levels of physical activity, and compliance level with pertinent WHO recommendations was evaluated, based on International Physical Activity Questionnaire (long form). Multilevel logistic regression models of socioeconomic factors associated with moderate-level, high-level physical activity, and WHO recommendations were developed. Results Data analyses revealed that 6.19% of the study participants (n=286) engaged in low-level physical activity, 48.86%—in moderate-level activity, while high-level activity was reported in 44.94% of them. Compliance with pertinent WHO recommendations was higher in men aged 44–55 years, boasting upper-level education, living without a partner and in the persons with a net income over €1140 per household. Conclusions Overall level of physical activity in the residents of a mid-sized, Central-European city was established as moderate. Pertinent WHO recommendations on physical activity were met by 4.2% of the subjects only.

Background: Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading cause of mortality worldwide; with age acknowledged as an independent cardiovascular risk factor (CRF) in adults. Appreciating the association between age and classic CRFs is believed to boost all potential benefits of prevention. Purpose: Assessment of the prevalence of single and clustered CRFs and their association with age. Patients and Methods: The survey involved 4735 people (33.6% men) who were PONS project attendees aged 45– 64. The study protocol comprised the Health Status Questionnaire, general medical examination, anthropometric measurements, and blood and urine sampling. The prevalence of single and clustered CRFs (hypertension, dyslipidemia, diabetes mellitus, and obesity) in the incrementally split age groups was calculated. The incidence rate of CRFs, against their absence, was determined by Poisson regression models with robust standard errors. Results: The prevalence of CRFs was established in 90% of the respondents. Except dyslipidemia and ≥ 1 CRFs, prevalence of risk factors increased with age, although this trend was the weakest in men. In the total group, and in women, prevalence of dyslipidemia and ≥ 1 CRFs was unrelated to age, whereas in men, it was on the rise in the younger age groups. The incidence rate of CRFs was strongly related to age, and, with the exception of dyslipidemia, was higher in the older age groups. Conclusion: Cardiovascular risk factors are common in the adult population, while their prevalence and clustering are more prevalent in seniors. Apart from dyslipidemia, the risk of CRFs is appreciably age-related, and higher in seniors.

Modest weight loss enhances clinical control over cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors in overweight and obese individuals. This study aimed to assess the associations between individual weight loss and predefined criteria for clinical improvement in blood pressure, lipid levels, and glycemia. A two-year follow-up study involved 3388 (37.9% men) aged 45−64 years, BMI ≥ 25 kg/m². Changes in body weight were calculated as a percentage of baseline weight; outcome variables: systolic (SBP), diastolic (DBP) blood pressure, high-density (HDL-C) and low-density (LDL-C) lipoproteins, fasting blood glucose (FBG), and triglycerides (TG) were construed as the differences between baseline and outcome values. Clinically significant improvement was defined as SBP/DBP reduction by 5 mm/Hg, FBG−20 mg/dL, LDL-C-10 mg/dL, TG−40 mg/dL, and HDL-C increase by 5 mg/dL. Apart from LDL-C, a modest 5%–10% weight loss was associated with clinically significantly improved outcomes. The incident rate ratios and 95% confidence intervals for clinical improvement of SBP were: 1.27 (1.14–1.40), DBP/1.30 (1.12–1.50), HDL/1.54 (1.18–2.02), and TG/1.69 (1.32–2.17). In the higher category of weight loss, associations were still manifest, although the results proved diagnostically challenging (low number of cases). Even though modest weight loss does enhance clinical control over CVD risk factors, offering regular medical guidance to patients is postulated to further boos the anticipated outcomes.

Breast cancer treatment, including radical surgery, is also pursued as late as the 7th - 8th decade of women’s lives. Standard physical rehabilitation procedures offered to those women are predominantly focused on attenuating specific functional deficits of the upper limb and trunk. Seldom do they entail any regimens specifically aimed at recovering overall functionality, and reducing exposure to falls-risk. The study aimed to assess potential interrelationships between the self-reported falls, individual functional capabilities and appreciably reducing exposure to falls-risk in a group of post-menopausal, post-surgical breast cancer survivors. The study recruited 102 women (aged 65–79; mean age 70.2), post-surgical breast cancer survivors. The subjects were stratified by age into three groups: Group 1 (65–69 years); Group 2 (70–74 years), and Group 3 (75–79 years). Individual functional capabilities were assessed with Eight-foot up & go test (8UG), chair stand test (CST), and 2-minute step test (2ST). Tinetti POMA test was applied to assess gait and balance disorders. Self-reported falls in the past year were ascertained through a questionnaire. Assessment of individual aerobic endurance (2ST) also demonstrated a clear deficit in the mean scores category in all respective age sub-groups, as compared against the reference values. The deficits ranged from 4.86 to 15.90 steps less than the normative values; the oldest subjects demonstrating the largest deficit. The aerobic endurance tests results significantly impacted the ultimate assessment of an individual falls-risk in the oldest group. The analysis of the number of falls sustained within the recent year indicated that 43.67% of the subjects fell victim of such incidents. An individual exposure to falls-risk was found to be appreciably more dependent upon individual aerobic endurance rather than overall strength of the lower part of the body in the breast cancer survivors over 75.