Relationship between eating awareness, physical fitness, and body composition in community-living older adults: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Objectives The aim of the study was to compare physical fitness and body composition in older adults with high and low levels of eating awareness and to examine the relationship between these parameters. Methods This cross-sectional study included 120 older adults aged 65-70 years (60 with high eating awareness and 60 with low eating awareness). Eating awareness was assessed with the Eating Awareness Questionnaire (MEQ-30). To determine the physical fitness level, 30-second chair sit-and-stand test, Timed Up and Go test, 6-minute walking test, one-leg stand test, hand grip strength with a Jamar dynamometer (Sammons Preston, USA), and knee extension strength with a Lafayette digital dynamometer (USA). For body composition assessment, skeletal muscle mass, body fat percentage, and body mass index (BMI) were measured with the InBody 120 (InBody Co., Ltd., Seoul, Korea). Physical fitness and body composition were compared between older adults with and without eating awareness. In addition, the relationship between eating awareness, physical fitness and body composition was examined in all older adults. Results A statistically significant difference was found in all physical fitness and body composition assessment results between older adults with high and low eating awareness (p < 0.05). In addition, a statistically significant relationship was found between eating awareness (MEQ-30), physical fitness and body composition results in older adults (p < 0.05). Conclusion This study showed that older adults with higher eating awareness tended to have better physical fitness results, greater muscle mass, and lower body fat percentage and BMI compared to those with lower eating awareness. In addition, lower eating awareness was associated with reduced physical fitness, decreased skeletal muscle mass, and increased body fat percentage and BMI. These findings indicate that eating awareness is closely related to both body composition and physical functionality in older adults, highlighting its potential role as an important behavioral factor in healthy aging.