Changes in the body composition and physical fitness of middle-aged and elderly people living in mountainous areas before and after COVID-19

Abstract

  Currently, there are concerns relating to the decline in physical fitness due to coronavirus disease 2019 （COVID-19）. The purpose of this study was to clarify changes in body composition and physical strength before and after COVID-19 in middle-aged and elderly people living in mountainous areas. The study included 13 individuals （5 men ［mean age: 51.8±5.2 years］ and 8 women ［mean age: 53.5±5.9 years］） who underwent physical fitness measurements before （2019） and after （2021） COVID-19. The measurement items included body weight, body mass index, basal metabolic rate, body fat percentage, lean body mass, waist circumference, skeletal muscle mass, body fat mass, grip strength, toe grip strength, sit-and-reach test, bar-gripping reaction time, 30-second chair stand test （CS-30 test）, one-leg standing test with eyes open, and 10-meter walk test. The participants showed no changes in their body composition in 2021 compared to 2019. Regarding physical strength, there were no significant changes in men, but women showed significant decreases in sitting forward bending, CS-30 test, and walking cadence in 2021 compared to 2019. These results suggest that middle-aged and elderly people （men and women） living in mountainous areas did not change their body composition before and after COVID-19. Men showed no changes in physical fitness before and after COVID-19, whereas women showed decrease in flexibility, muscular endurance, and walking ability.