| Keywords |
Body mass index ; Functional fitness ; Elderly |
| Abstract |
The purpose of this study was to assess the association between functional fitness (FF) and levels of body mass index (BMI) in community-dwelling older people. Independently-living older adults (482 men and 1092 women), aged 65-80 years, were recruited from four community senior wellbeing-center. Subjects were group into four categories of BMI (under weight; UW, normal weight; NW, over weight; OW, obese; OB) using Asian criteria, and betweengroup differences in FF were analyzed by using ANCOVA adjusting for age. Functional fitness was evaluated by using the following measurements: sit and reach, timed up and go, arm curl, functional reach, and chair sit to stand. There were sex differences among BMI groups. Although there was not significant, compared to those that were NW or OW, individuals with UW or OB scored lower on the sit and reach, chair sit to stand, and 2-min walk. These results suggest that lower and/or higher BMI are related to selected physical fitness parameters among older adults, and may affect the ability perform activity of daily living. In conclusion, underweight or/and obese older people were associated with a greater likelihood of poor functional fitness. |