Table 3 Direct and indirect associations of muscle-free mass and muscle mass on physical activity

Middle-aged women (n = 1158)^a

Muscle-free mass

0.058

[-0.151, 0.268]

-0.368 ***

[-0.562, -0.175]

Muscle mass

-0.053

[-0.193, 0.087]

0.232 ***

[0.108, 0.356]

Older women (n = 289)

Muscle-free mass

0.020

[-0.183, 0.222]

-0.523 ***

[-0.722, -0.325]

Muscle mass

-0.001

[-0.142, 0.140]

0.261 ***

[0.131, 0.392]

Older men (n = 196)

Muscle-free mass

0.293

[-0.250, 0.836]

-0.759 ***

[-1.315, -0.202]

Muscle mass

-0.137

[-0.530, 0.256]

0.528 ***

[0.149, 0.907]]