Elevated BMI Impairs Balance among Older Adults with Vestibular Disorders

ORCID

Alexis King - 0000-0002-1322-7779

Document Type

Article

Publication Title

Journal of Exercise Medicine

Department

Health, Exercise, and Sport Sciences Department

ISSN

2378-4083

Volume

8

Issue

1

First Page

1

Last Page

12

Publication Date

2-1-2023

Abstract

Elevated BMI Impairs Balance among Older Adults with Vestibular Disorders. Each year, more than 3 million older adults are admitted to emergency departments for fall-related injuries. Identifying variables that predict fall risk may help manage this problem. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of body mass index (BMI) on balance in older adults with fall risk. We enrolled 25 older adults (12 men, 13 women) with vestibular disorders to complete balance assessments before and after a treadmill exercise session. A linear regression model was used to test the effects of age, sex, BMI, and group assignment on the change in balance percent explained 78% of the variance (P<0.001). Performing a fatigue protocol was associated with a greater loss of balance (P=0.044). Furthermore, when evaluating obesity as a binary variable, a BMI >30 was associated with a loss in balance of 5 percentage points (P=0.011). Therefore, weight-management strategies such as exercise prescribed by an exercise physiologist, when performed in a safe and controlled environment, may elicit improved balance.

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