Musculoskeletal deterioration in men accompanies increases in body fat

Objective
To examine body fat and musculoskeletal changes in men over 5 years.

Methods
Body composition was evaluated for men in the Geelong Osteoporosis Study using whole body dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) during two time-periods. DXA was performed for 1329 men (25-96 years) during 2001-2006 and for 900 men (25-98 years), 2006-2011. The masses of fat, lean, and bone were expressed relative to the square of height (kg/m2). Each compartment was also expressed as a percentage relative to body weight (%fat, %lean, %bone).

Results
Mean BMI increased from 26.9 kg/m2 in 2001-2006, to 27.2 kg/m2 in 2006-2011 (P = 0.04). Mean fat mass increased by 9.0% from 6.98 kg/m2 (95%CI 6.84-7.11) in 2001-2006, to 7.60 kg/m2 (7.44-7.77) in 2006-2011 (P < 0.001); mean lean mass decreased by 0.9%, from 18.92 kg/m2 (18.83-19.01) to 18.75 kg/m2 (18.64-18.86) (P = 0.02), and mean bone mass decreased 1.6% from 1.041 kg/m2 (1.034-1.047), to 1.024 kg/m2 (1.016-1.032). Mean %fat increased from 23.4% to 25.2%, mean %lean decreased from 72.6% to 70.9% and mean %bone decreased from 4.0% to 3.9% (all P < 0.05).

Conclusions
An increase in BMI, which reflects a substantial increase in body fat mass and declines in both lean and bone mass was reported. This may have implications for future development of bone fragility, sarcopenia, and sarcopenic obesity.

Socioeconomic status and quality of life in population-based Australian men: data from the Geelong Osteoporosis Study

Objective : To investigate the relationship between socioeconomic status (SES) and reported perceptions of quality of life (QOL) in a cross-sectional population-based analysis of a representative sample of Australian men.

Alcohol consumption and body composition in a population-based sample of elderly Australian men

Background: Alcohol is calorie dense, and impacts activity, appetite and lipid processing. The aim of this study was to therefore investigate the association between alcohol consumption and components of body composition including bone, fat and lean tissue.

Methods: Participants were recruited from a randomly selected, population-based sample of 534 men aged 65 years and older enrolled in the Geelong Osteoporosis Study. Alcohol intake was ascertained using a food frequency questionnaire and the sample categorised as nondrinkers or alcohol users who consumed B2, 3–4 or C5 standard drinks on a usual drinking day. Bone mineral density (BMD), lean body mass and body fat mass were measured using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry; overall adiposity (%body fat), central adiposity (%truncal fat) and body mass index (BMI) were calculated. Bone quality was determined by quantitative heel ultrasound (QUS).

Results: There were 90 current non-drinkers (16.9 %), 266 (49.8 %) consumed 1–2 drinks/day, 104 (19.5 %) 3–4 drinks/day and 74 (13.8 %) C5 drinks/day. Those consuming C5 drinks/day had greater BMI (?4.8 %), fat mass index (?20.1 %), waist circumference (?5.0 %), %body fat (?15.2 %) and proportion of trunk fat (?5.3 %) and lower lean mass (-5.0 %) than non-drinkers after adjustment for demographic and lifestyle factors. Furthermore, they were more likely to be obese than non-drinkers according to criteria based on BMI (OR = 2.83, 95 %CI 1.10–7.29) or waist circumference (OR = 3.36, 95 %CI 1.32–8.54). There was an inverse relationship between alcohol consumption and QUS parameters and BMD at the mid forearm site; no differences were detected for BMD at other skeletal sites.

Conclusion: Higher alcohol intake was associated with greater total and central adiposity and reduced bone quality.

Personal and psychosocial impacts of clinical fracture in men

Background : Little is known about the personal burden of fracture across the age spectrum, particularly in men. This study aimed to document the impact of clinical fracture on men's participation in employment, sports and outdoor recreation, mobility, handiwork, activities of daily living, home modification, and utilisation of community and health services.

Methods : This prospective study followed 196 men with incident fracture identified from radiology reports at the Geelong Hospital during the period July 2006 to December 2007 and examined personal and psychosocial impacts 12 months post-fracture, using a self-report questionnaire.

Results : Of all men identified with fracture, 40% took time off work. All fractures, except those to the upper limbs, had considerable impact on mobility. Inability to drive was associated with all fractures, but was most common with ankle fractures and most prolonged with hip fractures. Loss of confidence was reported by over one-third of all fracture cases, even 12 months after the fracture event. All fractures affected activities of daily living, and this was generally most prolonged for fractures of the hip. Similarly, all men with fracture utilised community and health services, even for the relatively minor fractures of the finger/thumb.

Conclusions : This study supports previous reports of the personal impact of hip fracture, and presents data about the consequences of upper and lower limb fractures and the generally poorly described sequelae of fractures of the finger/thumb and foot/toe. These observations have important implications for post-fracture care and rehabilitation in men.