Body composition, fear of falling and balance performance in community-dwelling older adults

Objectives

We aimed to 1) assess body composition using a portable technology, bioelectrical impedance analysis, (BIA) and 2) examine the associations between body composition and the discrepancy of fear of falling (FOF) and balance performance.

Methods

A cross-sectional study included 121 older adults 60 years and older, 78% were female, 41% lived alone, and 71% had no history of falls. The discrepancy between fear of falling and balance performance was categorized into four groups. We found 47% rational (low FOF and normal balance), 19% incongruent (low FOF despite poor balance), 18% irrational (high FOF despite normal balance), and 16% congruent (high FOF and poor balance).

Results

Body Fat Mass (BFM), Percent Body Fat (PBF), and Body Mass Index (BMI) were correlated with fear of falling and balance performance. BMI was significantly different in the rational group (p = 0.004) and incongruent group (p = 0.02) compared to the congruent group. PBF was significantly different between the incongruent (p = 0.002), irrational (p = 0.014), and rational (p < 0.001) groups, compared to the congruent group.

Conclusions

The study found that body BFM, PBF, and BMI were correlated with fear of falling and balance impairment. High Body Mass Index and Body Fat Mass were associated with a discrepancy between FOF and balance. Body composition analysis devices, such as BIA and other portable technologies, could be taken to underserved communities and may help identify community-dwelling older adults who are frail and may be at high risk of falling.