Relationship between BMI and physical performance among older adults

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Public Health
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Body Mass Index (BMI) is a common metric for assessing weight status.
• Physical performance declines with age, impacting independence and quality of life in older adults.
• Understanding the relationship between BMI and physical function is vital for targeted interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between Body Mass Index (BMI) categories and physical performance in community-dwelling older adults.
• To identify whether underweight or overweight BMI is more detrimental to physical function.
• To provide evidence for health recommendations regarding weight management in aging populations.

Main Methods:

• A descriptive and association study utilizing secondary data from a population-based epidemiological research.
• Inclusion of 316 community-dwelling older adults.
• BMI categorized as underweight (<22.0 kg/m²), adequate (22.0–27.0 kg/m²), and overweight (>27.0 kg/m²).
• Physical performance assessed via chair stand, pick up a pen, and walking tests.
• Cox regression analysis with multiple modeling, adjusted for gender and age, to determine associations.

Main Results:

• Individuals classified as underweight demonstrated significantly poorer performance in the chair stand test compared to those with adequate weight (βadjusted = 0.64; p = 0.004).
• Body Mass Index (BMI) was identified as a predictor of good physical function.
• Underweight status emerged as a more significant limiting factor for physical performance than overweight status.

Conclusions:

• Underweight is a significant predictor of reduced physical performance, specifically in the chair stand test, among community-dwelling older adults.
• Maintaining an adequate Body Mass Index (BMI) is associated with better physical function in older age.
• Findings highlight the importance of addressing underweight as a modifiable risk factor for physical decline in the elderly.