Geriatrics (Nov 2018)

Physical Characteristics Vary According to Body Mass Index in Japanese Community-Dwelling Elderly Women

  • Koji Nonaka,
  • Shin Murata,
  • Kayoko Shiraiwa,
  • Teppei Abiko,
  • Hideki Nakano,
  • Hiroaki Iwase,
  • Koichi Naito,
  • Jun Horie

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/geriatrics3040087
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 3, no. 4
p. 87

Abstract

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Background: Body mass index (BMI) is related to health in the elderly. The purpose of this study was to investigate the physical characteristics in underweight, overweight, and obese Japanese community-dwelling elderly women compared to normal-weight elderly women. Methods: The study participants included 212 community-dwelling elderly women. They were categorized as underweight (BMI < 18.5), normal weight (18.5 ≤ BMI ≤ 22.9), overweight (23 ≤ BMI ≤ 24.9), and obese (BMI ≥ 25). Data on skeletal muscle mass index (SMI), number of trunk curl-ups performed within 30 seconds, knee extension strength, one-leg standing time, and walking speed were recorded. Results: In the underweight group, the number of trunk curl-ups was significantly lower than that of the normal-weight group (p = 0.011) and the correlation between knee extension strength and walking speed was relatively higher than in the normal-weight group (r = 0.612 vs. r = 0.471). In the overweight group, the SMI was significantly increased (p < 0.001), but knee extension strength was not increased (p = 0.235) compared to that of the normal-weight group. In the obese group, one-leg standing time was significantly shorter than in the normal-weight group (p = 0.016). Conclusions: Physical characteristics vary according to BMI and these findings are useful in assessing and planning interventional programs to improve and maintain physical function in elderly women.

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