Associations between physical activity, functional fitness, and mental health among older adults in Nakornpathom, Thailand.

Physical activity (PA) is one of the strategies capable of attenuating age-related functional and mental declines in older adults. This study examines the associations between PA, functional fitness (FF) and mental health (MH) of Thai older adults. A cross-sectional study was conducted in Kamphaeng-sane communities, Nakornpathom, Thailand, including 266 adults, age ?60 years. PA was assessed using GPAQ 2 , FF was measured by Sport Authority of Thailand physical fitness test and MH was evaluated using Thai Mental Health Indicator. Multinomial logistic regression analyses were used. Older adults who participated in moderate and vigorous PA were more likely to have a higher FF and MH than low PA subjects. This study suggests that older adults who spent more time in moderate to vigorous PA and less time in sedentary behaviours improved their FF and MH. Thus, public health organizations and exercise and sport institutions should include these findings in PA intervention programs.