Background

There are inconsistent findings regarding the relationship between body mass index (BMI), fear of falling and body balance, especially on unstable surfaces.

Objectives

To investigate whether obesity is associated with worse postural balance and fear of falling in older adults.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted with 201 older adults, classified as normal weight, overweight, or obese according to BMI. Postural balance was evaluated on stable and unstable surfaces on the Biodex Balance System platform under three visual conditions: with and without visual feedback and with eyes closed. Fear of falling was identified by a dichotomous question and the Falls Efficacy Scale. These data were compared between groups and included in adjusted multiple linear regression analysis.

Results

The study showed no significant differences (p > 0.05) in body oscillations on a stable surface between the three groups. On an unstable surface, the obese older adults exhibited body oscillations from 0.61° [95% CI 0.07, 1.30] to 1.63° [95% CI 0.84, 2.41] greater than those with normal weight in the three visual conditions. The obese older adults also displayed larger mediolateral oscillations with visual feedback (mean difference: 0.50° [95% CI 0.01, 0.98]) as well as greater global oscillations without visual feedback (mean difference of 0.82° [95% CI 0.18, 1.81]) and with progressive instability (mean difference: 0.80° [95% CI 0.05, 1.66]) than the overweight older adults. BMI explained from 6 to 12% of body swings investigated on unstable surface. Obesity was not associated with fear of falling.

Conclusion

Obesity was associated with reduced postural stability on unstable surfaces but not with fear of falling in older adults.

中文翻译：

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肥胖与不稳定表面上的姿势平衡有关，但与老年人害怕跌倒无关

背景

关于体重指数 (BMI)、跌倒恐惧和身体平衡之间的关系，研究结果不一致，尤其是在不稳定的表面上。

目标

调查肥胖是否与老年人更差的姿势平衡和害怕跌倒有关。

方法

对 201 名老年人进行了一项横断面研究，根据 BMI 分为正常体重、超重或肥胖。在 Biodex Balance System 平台上的稳定和不稳定表面上，在三种视觉条件下评估姿势平衡：有和没有视觉反馈以及闭眼。对跌倒的恐惧是通过一个二分问题和跌倒疗效量表来确定的。这些数据在组间进行比较，并包括在调整后的多元线性回归分析中。

结果

该研究表明，三组之间在稳定表面上的身体振动没有显着差异（p > 0.05）。在不稳定的表面上，肥胖的老年人在三种视觉条件下表现出比正常体重者大 0.61° [95% CI 0.07, 1.30] 到 1.63° [95% CI 0.84, 2.41] 的身体摆动。肥胖的老年人还表现出更大的具有视觉反馈的中外侧振荡（平均差异：0.50° [95% CI 0.01, 0.98]）以及在没有视觉反馈的情况下更大的整体振荡（平均差异 0.82° [95% CI 0.18, 1.81]） ) 和渐进性不稳定（平均差异：0.80° [95% CI 0.05, 1.66]）比超重老年人。BMI 解释了在不稳定表面上调查的 6% 到 12% 的身体摆动。肥胖与害怕跌倒无关。

结论

肥胖与不稳定表面上的姿势稳定性降低有关，但与老年人害怕跌倒无关。