NÍVEL DE APTIDÃO FÍSICA E ESTADO NUTRICIONAL DE PARTICIPANTES DO PROJETO DE EXTENSÃO-INTERFACE PESQUISA: EM “COMUM-IDADE”: UMA PROPOSTA DE AÇÕES INTEGRADAS PARA A PROMOÇÃO DA SAÚDE DE IDOSOS DA CIDADE DE VIÇOSA-MG

This study analyzed the level of physical fitness and nutritional status of elderly participants of the Common-Age project, held in the communities of Sao Jose do Triunfo and Nova Vicosa, in Vicosa, MG. An Exploratory cross-sectional study, conducted in August 2012. It was carried out an anthropometric evaluation: body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC) as well as physical evaluation: tests for flexibility, strength of lower / upper limbs, agility and balance, according to Rikli and Jones (2001). It was conducted a descriptive and bivariate data analysis. In the last one, the significance level was a = 0.05. This study included 149 subjects. The great majority (89.1%) was women and nearly 70% were between 55 and 69 years. There was a predominance of overweight (62.2%) and 90.1% with very high coronary risk. The test scores were presented, mostly within the normal range for age, except the test of stand up / walk, which was evident that 56.7% had bad score. The worse results were observed for agility / balance and lower limb strength among elderly with high coronary risk, which indicates increased risk of falls in this group. It was concluded that interventions for improvement / maintenance of physical fitness and nutritional status are greatly relevant for health promotion of the study group.