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Journals / Balıkesir Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi / 2026 / Volume: 15 Issue: 3

The Effect of Age and Regular Physical Activity on Body Composition, Blood Parameters, and Cardiovascular Risks in Adult Males and Females

Dilek Sevimli(Çukurova University)0000-0001-6463-1678
Fatoş Yağmur Erbaşı0000-0002-7611-1984
Mehmet Ziyagil(MERSİN ÜNİVERSİTESİ, SPOR BİLİMLERİ FAKÜLTESİ)0000-0000-0003-0984
Pages
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Publication Date
2026-10-08
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AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

Sex specific physical activity recommendations and clinical risk assessment are needed.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

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Objective & Hypothesis:Objective: This study investigated the effects of gender, age (≤40 vs. >40 years), and regular physical activity on body composition (DEXA-measured), blood lipid profile (HDL, LDL, total cholesterol, triglycerides), and 10 year fatal cardiovascular risk (SCORE system) in 118 adults aged 30–60 years from Kayseri, Turkey.
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Key Findings & Data:Results: Men had significantly higher lean mass, bone mineral content, and triglycerides, while women had higher fat mass, body fat percentage, and HDL cholesterol (p 40 years showed significantly higher body weight, BMI, total and LDL cholesterol, fat mass, systolic blood pressure, and SCORE risk compared to younger women (d up to -2.607).
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Conclusion & Impact:Sex specific physical activity recommendations and clinical risk assessment are needed.
🔬Design:Survey & Empirical Study
📍Scope:Comprehensive Sample
⚙️Variables:Physical activity · cardiovascular risk · body composition

Abstract

Objective: This study investigated the effects of gender, age (≤40 vs. >40 years), and regular physical activity on body composition (DEXA-measured), blood lipid profile (HDL, LDL, total cholesterol, triglycerides), and 10 year fatal cardiovascular risk (SCORE system) in 118 adults aged 30–60 years from Kayseri, Turkey. Methods: A cross sectional design was used. Participants were classified by sex, age group, and exercise stage (sedentary vs. regular exercisers) based on the Stages of Change Questionnaire. Body composition was assessed by dual energy X ray absorptiometry (DEXA). Blood lipids were measured from fasting samples. Cardiovascular risk was calculated using the SCORE algorithm. Independent t tests and Cohen’s d effect sizes were used for comparisons. Results: Men had significantly higher lean mass, bone mineral content, and triglycerides, while women had higher fat mass, body fat percentage, and HDL cholesterol (p 40 years showed significantly higher body weight, BMI, total and LDL cholesterol, fat mass, systolic blood pressure, and SCORE risk compared to younger women (d up to -2.607). Men >40 years had higher BMI, blood pressure and SCORE risk but no lipid changes. Regular exercise was associated with higher total and LDL cholesterol and higher 10 year SCORE risk in women (d=-0.543 to -0.668) but not in men. Exercise behaviour scores confirmed good adherence in the active groups. Conclusion: Age dramatically increases cardiovascular risk in both sexes, via lipid changes in women and blood pressure changes in men. The paradoxical elevations in cholesterol and SCORE risk in exercising women may reflect the “calcium paradox” (stable plaques) rather than true increased risk. Sex specific physical activity recommendations and clinical risk assessment are needed.

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Cite This Article

Sevimli, D., Erbaşı, F. Y., Ziyagil, M. (2026). The Effect of Age and Regular Physical Activity on Body Composition, Blood Parameters, and Cardiovascular Risks in Adult Males and Females. Balıkesir Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi, Volume: 15 Issue: 3. https://doi.org/10.53424/balikesirsbd.1992392

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