Physical activity, body composition and general health status of physically active students of the University of the Third Age (U3A)

• Over 60% of the U3A students have met the ACSM recommendations for physical activity.
• The number of steps per day was inversely related to body adiposity and insulin resistance.
• Active lifestyle was positively correlated with cognitive function in male U3A students.
• Physically active U3A students had fewer CVD risk factors than a comparison group of adults.

ObjectiveTo evaluate general health status of a group of older adults, physically active students of the University of the Third Age (U3A), based on results of biochemical analyses of blood, assessment of their physical activity (PA) level, body composition and cognitive function with respect to age and sex.MethodsA total of 104 students (85 women and 19 men, aged 63.7 ± 6.6 y) of the U3A's located in the Upper Silesia region of Poland volunteered to participate in this study. A habitual PA level and body composition were objectively assessed by using ActiGraph GT1M and InBody 720, respectively. Serum lipid profile and glucose metabolism markers were measured for assessment of cardiovascular disease risk factors. Moreover, subjects' cognitive functions were tested.ResultsMost of the study participants reached the daily step goal of 10,000 steps and thus fulfilled the ACSM recommendations for the quantity and quality of cardiorespiratory exercise. Highly negative correlations between the number of steps per day and body adiposity markers, serum insulin and HOMA-IR confirmed that vigorous physical activity at the recommended level was associated with better body composition and lower levels of risk markers of coronary heart disease and diabetes. Most of the U3A students were characterized by a favorable lipid profile, prevalence of normal blood pressure, low rates of HOMA-estimated insulin resistance and normal cognitive function.ConclusionAdherence to ACSM recommendations is associated with beneficial changes in risk factors related to cardiovascular disease.