Age related changes in body composition are associated with long term dietary intake profiles. Age related increase in body fat is primarily attributed to decline in physical activity and basal metabolic rate as well as dietary intake. The study was designed to assess the body composition, dietary intake and physical activity level of sedentary adult women of different age groups. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 152 sedentary adult women comprised of students and faculty from Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana. The relationship of body composition with dietary factors and physical activity level of women in four age groups i.e. 21 - 30, 31 - 40, 41 - 50 and 51 - 60 years was determined. A gradual increase (p ≤ 0.05) in anthropometric and body composition parameters such as weight, waist circumference, hip circumference, body mass index, fat mass and visceral fat rating was observed with the advancement of age. The lean body mass was decreased significantly (p ≤ 0.05) as the age progressed, the values for four age groups being 74.9, 68.9, 62.8 and 60.9%, respectively. Contrary to this fat mass increased with age, the corresponding values for four age groups being 15.7, 21.4, 26.6 and 29.2 kg, respectively. The percent adequacy of protein by four age groups was 69.6, 78.2, 80.0 and 66.3, respectively when compared to RDA while fat intake was much higher i.e. 245.5, 271.8, 288.4 and 250.8%, respectively. The energy intake was inadequate among all age groups, however, a significant (p ≤ 0.05) differ- ence was observed in daily energy consumption between the age groups. The mean physical activity level (PAL) of the subjects ranged between 1.49 - 1.60. The physical activity level values showed that majority of the subjects (87% - 94%) were having sedentary life style. Age is a crucial factor associated with body composition. A high fat mass and low lean body mass of the subjects was observed. Their diets were low in protein but high in fat. Majority of the subjects from different age groups had sedentary life style. A diet with higher protein and lesser fat combined with exercise can help in sustaining optimum body composition.
KeywordsLean Body MassFat MassDietary FactorsPhysical Activity Level
M. Visser, S. B. Kritchevsky and B. H. Goodpaster, “Leg Muscle Mass and Composition in Relation to Lower Extremity Performance in Men and Women Aged 70 to 79 Years: The Health, Aging and Body Composition Stud,” Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, Vol. 50, No. 5, 2002, pp. 897-904. doi:10.1046/j.1532-5415.2002.50217.x
A. A. Suleiman, O. K. Alboqai, N. Yasein, J. M. El-Qudah, M. F. Bataineh and B. A. Obeidat, “Prevalence of and Factors Associated with Overweight and Obesity among Jordon University Students,” Journal of Biological Sciences, Vol. 9, No. 7, 2009, pp. 738-745. doi:10.3923/jbs.2009.738.745
I. H. C. F. Menezes, M. B. Neutzling and J. A. A. C. Taddei, “Risk Factors for Overweight and Obesity in Adolescents of a Brazilian University: A Case-Control Study,” Números Disponibles, Vol. 24, No. 1, 2009, pp. 17-24.
J. D. Stookey, L. Adair, J. Steven and B. M. Popkin, “Patterns of Long Term Change in Body Composition Are Associated with Diet, Activity, Income and Urban Residence among Older Adults in China,” The Journal of Nutrition, Vol. 131, No. 9, 2001, pp. 2433-2440.
R. Kasliwal, M. Banasal and V. Agarwal, P. Dardon, R. Mehrotia and Garg R, “Brief Report: Metabolic Syndrome and Cardiovascular Risk Factors among the Affluent Asian Indians Living in India,” Metabolic Syndrome Related Disorders, Vol. 2, No. 3, 2004, pp. 169-171. doi:10.1089/met.2004.2.169
A. Ramachandran, C. Snehalatha and K. Satyavan, “Metabolic Syndrome in Urban Asian Indian Adults—A Population Study Using Modified ATP III Criteria,” Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice, Vol. 60, No. 3, 2003, pp. 199-204. doi:10.1016/S0168-8227(03)00060-3
K. L. Donald, C. Peter and C. G. Mary, “Ronald MK, Frank QN. Protein in Optimal Health Heart Disease and Type II Diabetes,” The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol. 87, No. 5, 2008, pp. 1571-75.
W. O. Song, S. K. Mann, S. Sehgal and P. R. Devi, “Gudaru S, Kakarala M. Nutriguide: Asian Indian Foods,” Nutritional Analysis Computer Programme, Michigan State University, East Lansing, 1992.
Indian Council of Medical Research, “Nutrient Requirements and Recommended Dietary Allowances for Indians,” National Institute of Nutrition, Hyderabad, 2010.
FAO/WHO/UNU, “Human Energy Requirements,” Report of a Joint FAO/WHO/UNU Expert Consultation, Rome, 2004.
D. B. Jelliffe, “The Assessment of Nutritional Status of Community,” WHO, Geneva, 1966.
Tanita Body Composition Analyzer, “Tanita Body Composition Analyzer—Model: BC-420MA,” Tokyo, 2010.
J. S. Garrow, “Treat Obesity Seriously, A Clinical Manual,” Chutchill Livingstone, London, 1981.
Ghafoorunissa and Krishnanurthy, “Fatty Acid Composition and Food Items,” Diet and Heart Diseases, 2000, pp. 32-34.
G. K. Ursula, M. Katarina, K. Bengt, M. Picard-Kossovsky, G. Gremion and C. Pichard, “Eight-Year Longitudinal Changes in Body Composition in Healthy Swiss Adults,” Journal of the American College of Nutrition, Vol. 25, No. 5, 2006, pp. 493-501 .
S. Sharan and S. Puttaraj, “Prevalence of Upper Body Obesity as Determinant by Waist Hip Ratio (WHR) and Risk Factors Associated with It,” Indian Journal of Nutrition and Dietetics, Vol. 43, No. 9, 2006, pp. 378-384.
Y. Schutz, U. U. G. Kyle, C. Pichard, “Fat-Free Mass Index and Fat Mass Index Percentils in Caucasians Aged 18-98 y,” Indian Journal of Nutrition and Dietetics, Vol. 26, No. 7, 2002, pp. 953-960.
H. Jain and N. Singh, “A Study on Nutritional Status of Women in the Age Group of 25-50 Years Working in a Sedentary Job in Jaipur City,” Indian Journal of Nutrition and Dietetics, Vol. 40, No. 3, 2003, pp. 91-98.
R. Kuriyan, P. Easwaean and A. V. Kurpad, “Basal Metabolism Rate in Indian Male and Female Subjects of Different Body Mass Index,” Indian Journal of Nutrition and Dietetics, Vol. 42, No. 9, 2005, pp. 392-402.
A. Joseph, E. H. Poojara, S. Kowsalya and R. S. Devi, “Prevalence and Epidemiological Factor Associated with Obesity among Adults in Ernakulam District, Kerala,” Indian Journal of Nutrition and Dietetics, Vol. 45, No. 10, 2008, pp. 399-409.
B. Babitha and D. L. Kusuma, “Chronic Energy Deficiency and Obesity among Rural Women—Relationship between BMI and Selected Body Composition Parameters,” Indian Journal of Nutrition and Dietetics, Vol. 46, No. 9, 2009, pp. 386-392.
P. Nande, M. Hussain and S. Vali, “Influence of Obesity on Body Measurements and Composition in Adult Women Belonging to Minority Community,” Indian Journal of Nutrition and Dietetics, Vol. 47, No. 4, 2009, pp. 137-151.
R. N. Baumgartner, K. M. Koehler and D. Gallagher, “Epidemiology of Sarcopenia among the Elderly in New Mexico,” American Journal of Epidemiology, Vol. 147, No. 8, 1998, pp. 755-763. doi:10.1093/oxfordjournals.aje.a009520
B. S. N. Rao, “Nutrient Requirement and Safe Dietary Intake for Indians,” Bulletin of Nutrition Foundation of India, Vol. 31, No. 1, 2010, pp. 1-8.
U. Goya, “Fat and Fatty Acid Intake by Women from Urban and Semi-Urban Areas,” M.Sc. Thesis, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, 2003.
L. Deepti, L. Joyti and J. Parkash, “Diet Related Risk Factors for Osteoporosis in Peri and Post Menopausal Indian Women,” Indian Journal of Nutrition and Dietetics, Vol. 43, No. 8, 2006, pp. 341-349.
H. Sodhi, “Nutritional Status of Rural and Urban Families in Relation to Household Food Security,” M.Sc. Thesis, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, 2000.
C. S. Johnston, L. T. Sherrie and D. Pamela, “High Protein Low Fat Diets Are Effective for Weight Loss and Favourably Alter Biomarkers in Healthy Adults,” Journal of Nutrition, Vol. 134, No. 3, 2004, pp. 586-591.
D. K. Layman, E. Evans, J. I. Baum, J. Seyler, D. J. Erickon and R. A. Boileau, “Dietary Protein and Exercise Have Additive Effect on Body Composition during Weight Loss in Adult Women,” Journal of Nutrition, Vol. 135, No. 8, 2005, pp. 1903-1910.
M. Noakes, “The Role of Protein in Weight Management,” Asia Pacific Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol. 17, Suppl. 1, 2008, pp. 169-171.
I. Larsson, L. Lissner, I. N?slund and A. K. Lindroos, “Leisure and Occupational Physical Activity in Relation to Body Mass Index in Men and Women,” Scandinavian Journal of Nutrition, Vol. 48, No. 4, 2004, pp. 165-172. doi:10.1080/11026480410003785
E. T. Poehlman , M. J. Toth, L. B. Bunyard, A. W. Gardner, K. E. Donaldson, E. Colman E, T. Tekum Fonong and P. A. Ades, “Physiological Predictors of Increasing Total and Central Adiposity in Aging Men and Women,” Archives of Internal Medicine, Vol. 155, No. 22, 1995, pp. 2443-2448. doi:10.1001/archinte.1995.00430220101011