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Older women who are overweight or obese may be more at risk of disability as they age than thin women because of a loss of leg strength and power. These findings come from a small study with 25 women at the University of New Hampshire that looked at the effect of excess weight on women's leg strength, walking speed and power, factors that affect how well they can get up out of chairs or climb stairs. On average, the study showed that an overweight women's leg strength is about 24 percent lower than it is among normal weight women, and that the walking speed of obese women is about 20 percent slower.
They also found that power - the rate at which strength is applied - was 38 percent lower among overweight women than among those of normal weight. Looking ahead, the study leader suggested that women, regardless of weight, make an effort to maintain their strength as they get older and noted that to maintain good daily function, it may be easier for overweight women to increase strength than to lose weight. The study was published in the October issue of the Journal of Electromyography and Kinesiology. Learn more about obesity.
Posted in: Weight loss
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