Fall-Related Physical Function, Executive Function, and Myokine Responses in Older Women with Obesity Participating...

Backgrand and Objective: Aquatic exercise may be an effective strategy for promoting healthy aging among older women with obesity because it reduces joint loading while improving physical and functional capacity. In this prospective observational study, we examined longitudinal changes in fall-related physical function, executive function, and circulating myokine levels among older women with obesity according to their participation in a 16-week combined aquatic exercise program. Materials and Methods: Thirty older women with obesity were included in this prospective observational study and classified into an aquatic exercise group (n = 15) or a comparison group (n = 15) according to their participation in an existing community-based aquatic exercise program. Group membership was not assigned by the researchers. Participants in the aquatic exercise group attended the 16-week program, whereas those in the comparison group maintained their usual daily activities. Fall-related physical function, executive function, and circulating levels of the myokines irisin and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were assessed at baseline and at Weeks 8 and 16. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize participant characteristics, and two-way repeated-measures analyses of variance were performed to examine group differences, changes over time, and group × time interactions. When significant group × time interactions were observed, planned contrast analyses were conducted to examine changes across measurement time points. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. Results: Compared with the comparison group, the aquatic exercise group exhibited greater longitudinal improvements in several measures of fall-related physical function, including body composition, muscular function, and balance. However, no significant group × time interactions were observed for gait speed or endurance. Executive function demonstrated a significant group × time interaction (p < 0.001). Among the assessed myokines, irisin demonstrated a significant group × time interaction (p = 0.002), whereas IL-6 did not (p = 0.372), although IL-6 levels tended to decrease in the aquatic exercise group. Conclusions: Participation in the 16-week combined aquatic exercise program was associated with favorable longitudinal changes in several measures of fall-related physical function, executive function, and circulating irisin levels among older women with obesity. No significant group × time interactions were observed for gait performance or IL-6 levels. These findings suggest that participation in a community-based combined aquatic exercise program may be associated with favorable changes in selected indicators of healthy aging among older women with obesity.