Objectives: The updated World Health Organization guidelines in 2020 strongly recommend the optimal physical activity level for older adults. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the cross-sectional associations between excessive physical activity level and the risk of sarcopenia in older adults.
Methods: A nationwide cross-sectional telephone survey of older adults (≥65 years) was conducted in Taiwan from October 2019 to January 2020. Older adults were interviewed to collect data on their self-reported level of physical activity (measured with the IPAQ-SF), sarcopenia risk (measured with the SARC-F), and sociodemographics. Chi-square test and binary logistic regression models were applied.
Results: A total of 1068 older adults were surveyed. Compared with optimal physical activity recommendations in WHO guidelines and after adjusting for potential confounders, older adults with insufficient physical activity level (<150min/week, not meeting physical activity recommendation) were more likely to have a higher risk of sarcopenia (OR: 3.18; CI: 1.63-6.22). In contrast, older adults with excessive physical activity level (≥300 min/week, beyond the physical activity recommendation) were less likely to have a lower risk of sarcopenia (OR: 0.38; CI: 0.19-0.75). Conclusions: The findings of this study highlight that inconsistent with 2020 WHO guidelines, beyond the range of physical activity level (excessive PAL) seems to be more effective for sarcopenia prevention in older adults. It is suggested that future research needs to further explore whether excessive physical activity could contribute to other health benefits. Authors:
Chi Hsuan Tsai, National Taiwan Normal University, Taiwan
Yung Liao, National Taiwan Normal University, Taiwan
Shao-Hsi Chang, National Taiwan Normal University, Taiwan

About the Presenter(s)
Chi Hsuan Tsai (Grace) is a Ph.D. student at the Graduate Institute of Sport, Leisure and Hospitality Management at National Taiwan Normal University. Her interests include promoting health for older adults, physical activity, and leisure recreation.

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https://www.linkedin.com/in/chi-hsuan-tsai-978270167/

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https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Chi-Hsuan-Tsai

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