As part of an ongoing longitudinal study, we analyzed cross-sectional data to identify the predictors of lean body mass (LBM) and total adipose mass (TAM) in community-dwelling elderly men and women. Body composition analysis was done using dual energy x-ray absorptiometry. A total 262 subjects (118 women and 144 men), 60 to 80 years of age, from the urban and suburban communities of southeastern Wisconsin were studied. In women, the age (r = -.18), body mass index (BMI) (r = .43), and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) (r = .30), and in men, BMI (r = .45) and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) (r = .32) were identified as predictors (P < .05) of LBM. In women, the BMI (r = .87), WHR (r = .21), and functional work capacity (VO2 max) (r = -.47), and in men, the BMI (r = .83), WHR (r = .52), dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) (r = -.27), total testosterone (TT) (r = -.35), free testosterone (FT) (r = -.23), physical activity (LTE) (r = -.32), and VO2 peak (r = -.59) were identified as predictors of TAM. After partialling out age in addition to the predictors identified earlier, the VO2 peak was identified as a predictor (P < .05) of LBM in both women and men, and TT, FT, and LTE as predictors (P < .05) of LBM in men. We conclude that the BMI, WHR, and VO2 peak influences LBM and TAM in both women and men. Additionally, in men LBM and TAM is influenced by hormone profile.