Association Between Appetite and Physical Activity in Community-Dwelling Older Adults: Focusing on Activity Intensity and Duration.

BACKGROUND/

OBJECTIVES

Decreased appetite in older adults is associated with physical activity. Prior research findings have been inconsistent or limited due to methodological differences. Many studies did not adequately control for psychological or social confounders on appetite. Therefore, we aimed to assess the relationships among appetite, physical activity, psychological factors, and social factors in community-dwelling older adults. We investigated how physical activity intensity and time of day could be associated with appetite.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study included 100 community-dwelling older adults. Appetite was assessed using the Japanese version of the Simplified Nutritional Appetite Questionnaire. Physical activity was evaluated using an accelerometer. Physical activity intensity was classified into sedentary behavior, light-intensity activity, and moderate- to vigorous-intensity activity. Multiple regression analysis was performed with Japanese version of the Simplified Nutritional Appetite Questionnaire as the dependent variable, whereas physical activity, depression (Geriatric Depression Scale-15), and social isolation (Lubben Social Network Scale-6) were the independent variables.

RESULTS

The mean Japanese version of the Simplified Nutritional Appetite Questionnaire score in all participants was 15.2. Physical activity and social isolation were not associated with appetite, whereas higher levels of depression were significantly associated with lower appetite.

CONCLUSIONS

No association was observed between objectively measured physical activity and appetite among community-dwelling older adults. Appetite was significantly associated with depressive symptoms. These findings highlight the importance of addressing psychological factors, such as depression, for maintaining or improving appetite in older adults. Significance/Implications: Interventions targeting psychological factors might be important for maintaining and improving appetite in older adults.