The Effect of Biological Age on the Physical Fitness Capabilities of Male Students in Fars Province

Determining the biological age is a serious challenge in gerontological researches. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of aging on physical fitness capabilities of male students in Fars province. The research population is all male students between the ages of 20 and 52 years in Fars province. They were classified in three groups of inactive, moderately active, and active, and their biological age estimation equation was produced. The sample of this research consisted of 100 male students in Fars Province who were chosen after signing the informed consent form by stratified sampling method. Subgroups included the age classes of 20 to 23, 24 to 27, 28 to 32, 33 to 37, 38 to 42, 43 to 47, and 48 to 52 years. In each sub-group, about 70 people were visited, and at least 10 people voluntarily participated in the research. Physical fitness tests were shuttle run, sit and reach, modified pull up, medicine ball throw, sit-ups, Sargent jump, 30-meter running, and Illinois. The analysis revealed that 57 percent of the physical fitness is distinguishable from the amount of physical activity (p<0.01). Multi-factor regression showed that increasing the chronological age is associated with the physical fitness. However, the rate of this decrease was inversely related to the amount of physical activity. This means that the rate of decline in physical fitness was lower in active individuals. Results showed that the level of Iranian men fitness was much lower in term of aerobic fitness. The result of this research is based on the positive effect of exercise on biological age.

کلیدواژه ها:

biological age ، physical fitness capabilities ، male students ، Fars Province