Level of body mass index, functional fitness, quality of life, and satisfaction with life among women aged 60+ years participating in an organised pro-health training programme

Introduction: The aim of the study is to assess changes in body mass index (BMI), functional fitness, satisfaction with and quality of life among women 60+ years after participating in a 9-month organised health training programme.

Material and methods: Research on a group of 74 women aged 60-83 years (M = 67.8; SD = 5.1) was conducted twice, at the beginning and after 9 months of the health training programme (90 minutes, twice a week). The following tools were used in the research: SECA model 764 device, Fullerton functional fitness test, the World Health Organization Quality of Life questionnaire, and the satisfaction with life scale. Calculations were performed using the Statistica 13.1 program, via Pearson's and Spearman's correlation coefficients as well as Student's t-test for dependent measurements and the Wilcoxon paired test. Interactive repeated measures analysis of variance was also used. The assumed level of significance was α = 0.05.

Results: Comparing the results before and after implementing the health training programme, it was found that the average BMI value decreased (p < 0.001), while the functional fitness indicators, including the tests: 30-second chair stand (p < 0.001), 30-second arm curl (p < 0.001), back scratch (p = 0.001) and two-minute step-in-place (p = 0.002), increased. Between the first and second measurement, differences in quality of life profiles were also demonstrated, with 3 aspects of quality of life intensifying (somatic, psychological, and environmental), the psychological aspect increasing the most.

Conclusions: The obtained results confirmed the positive impact of the 9-month health training programme on the BMI, functional fitness, and quality of life of women above the age of 60 years.