Effects of Khon Kaen University modified qigong on metabolic variables in older adults
Gao Hao、 Yang Guang、 Hong Yuanyuan 、Huang Yifan

Khon Kaen University, Thailand

Henan Kaifeng Science and Media College

Abstract

With the development of economy and the improvement of medical level, the average life span of residents is gradually prolonged, and the aging process is accelerating day by day. Thailand currently has the third largest aging population in the world. At present, there are about 13 million people aged 60 and above in Thailand, accounting for 20% of the total population. By 2050, Thailands aging population is expected to increase to 20 million, accounting for 35.8% of the total population. This means that one third of Thais are elderly . The background of aging population and miniaturization of family structure makes the elderly population show the characteristics of aging and empty nest.
Metabolic syndrome (MS) is a state in which many risk factors of cardiovascular disease gather in individuals, and its main components are obesity, hypertension, insulin resistance, impaired glucose tolerance or type 2 diabetes, dyslipidemia and so on. After the formation of MS, there are many risk factors of atherosclerosis in the same individual, which accelerate the occurrence and development of coronary heart disease, other atherosclerotic diseases and diabetes, and aggravate the risk of death.
The elderly are the population with high incidence of Metabolic Syndrome (MS), which is closely related to the lack of physical activity of the elderly . Physical activity (PA) refers to any physical exercise that consumes energy caused by skeletal muscle contraction . Regular and sufficient physical activity can improve cell activity, promote the consumption of energy substances such as sugar and fat, reduce the risk factors of metabolic diseases and reduce the prevalence of diseases . However, the data show that the physical activity level of most elderly people is insufficient at present, and the proportion of low physical activity level of elderly people reaches 41.3%-48.1% .
Because of the decline of physical fitness, the change of living environment and the fear of falling and injury, the elderly are prone to the decline of physical activity level due to long-term immobility, which affects cell activity and energy metabolism, and leads to MS induced by unhealthy health conditions such as hyperlipidemia, hyperglycemia and obesity. Studies have shown that MS is a common disease and high incidence among the elderly, with a prevalence rate as high as 36.9% . The high prevalence of MS has become a difficult problem affecting the health of the elderly, and relevant measures should be taken to control it.
The occurrence of MS is closely related to obesity. At present, it is considered that central obesity (abdominal obesity) and insulin resistance (IR) are important pathogenic factors of MS. Obesity is not only closely related to hypertension, dyslipidemia, coronary heart disease, diabetes and other chronic diseases, but also the most common cause of insulin resistance. Poor modern lifestyles promote obesity, which in turn leads to insulin resistance and the formation of other components of metabolic syndrome.
Studies have shown that exercise is an effective way to prevent and treat MS. Exercise changes the lifestyle of doing more and doing less, and can improve insulin sensitivity. Appropriate exercise can change obesity, adjust blood pressure, improve glucose and lipid metabolism, and reduce individual MS risk factors.
Health Qigong is one of the traditional methods of health preservation and fitness in China, which has a long history. At the end of 2001, the Health Qigong Management Center of the State Sports General Administration of China sorted out the traditional methods and created Baduanjin of Health Qigong. After the advent of Health Qigong Baduanjin, it was loved by the masses because of its soft movements, generous stretching and easy practice.
This study aims to observe the effects of 60-week improved health qigong exercise on the related indexes of metabolic syndrome (waist circumference, blood pressure, blood sugar, blood lipid, apolipoprotein B, insulin resistance index H0MA2-IR), body weight and body fat percentage of the elderly. To investigate its value in preventing chronic diseases in the elderly, and to explore new ways to reduce weight, prevent metabolic syndrome and reduce risk factors of arteriosclerosis.

Keywords: Population ageing, metabolism, insulin resistance

Topic: Societal outcomes through sports