研究背景：本研究的目的為調查台灣地區不同年齡層受試族群健康體適能之不同。方法：共有182位年齡在20到93歲的受試者自願參與本研究，將男性和女性受試者依年齡分為三組，分別為20-39歲、40-59歲及60歲以上三組。健康體試能測試項目包括坐姿前彎、手握力測驗、仰臥起坐及修正式伏地挺身測驗、體脂肪測定、腰臀圍比及三分鐘登階測試。將男性和女性受試者資料分別以one-way AVOVA檢定三年齡組之間各測驗項目是否存有差異。結果：不論男女，年輕組均有較高的身高和較輕的體重，老年組的收縮壓則明顯較另外兩組為高（p<0.05）。三年齡組間柔軟度及登階指數並無明顯的差異（p>0.05），但有關肌肉系統的測試項目包括手握力、仰臥起坐及修正式伏地挺身的次數均隨年齡增加而下降（p<0.05）。中年後體脂肪比例和腰臀明顯較年輕組高，但只有在男性，老年組的腰臀比顯著高於中年組。另外老年組受試者完成三分鐘登階測驗的人數明顯較少，但完成此測試的老年人其登階指數與其他兩組並無顯著差異。結論：健康體適能有隨年齡增加而下降的趨勢，中年族群也應該重視相關問題，並盡力維持健康體適能。

Background and purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the health-related physical fitness parameters in different age groups in Taiwanese population. Methods: This is cross-sectional design study. One hundred and eighty-two volunteers (91 men and 91 women) aged from 20 to 93 years participated. Subjects of each gender were divided into three age groups 20-39, 40-59, and 60 and above. Physical fitness assessments included tests of sit-and-reach, grip strength, curl-up and modified push-up, percent of body fat, waist-hip ratio, and three-minute stepping test. One-way ANOVA was used to detect the differences among age groups in men and women respectively. Results: For both genders, the youngest group was taller and lower in body weight and the old age group had higher systolic blood pressure than the other two groups (p<0.05). All the subjects in the young and middle-age groups were able to complete all tests, but not in the old age group. The flexibility and the physical efficiency index did not differ significantly among the three groups (p>0.05),'but muscular performance parameters such as grip strength, curl-up and modified push-up declined with age group (p<0.05). Percentage of body fat and waist-hip ratio were higher in both middle- and old age groups compared with the young age group. Waist-hip ratio was significantly different between the middle and the old age group only in male.
Conclusions: A less fit trend with increasing age was noted. It suggests that not only the elderly but also the middle aged people should be aware of such problems and make an effort to maintain their physical fitness.