2013 Volume 62 Issue 4 Pages 323-330
This study aimed to examine the association between body mass index (BMI) and muscle strength, and mobility limitation (ML). A cross-sectional analysis was conducted on data from 570 community-dwelling older Japanese women aged 65-91 years [mean age, 73.9 ± 5.8 (SD) years]. Muscle strength was assessed by hand-grip strength (HGS). ML was assessed using self-reported difficulty level in walking 400 m and ascending 10 steps without resting. BMI and muscle strength were divided into tertiles (high: BMI ≧ 25.1 kg/m2, HGS ≧ 22.5 kg; middle: BMI 22.4-25.0 kg/m2, HGS 18.8-22.4 kg; low: BMI ≦ 22.3 kg/m2, HGS ≦ 18.7 kg) respectively, and logistic regression analysis was used to determine the association between BMI and muscle strength with ML. 256 participants (44.9%) were identified as having ML. Adjusted odds ratios of BMI for ML were 1.64 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.00-2.68) in the middle group and 1.89 (95% CI: 1.15-3.12) in the high group when compared to the low group. Adjusted odds ratios of muscle strength for ML were 1.25 (95% CI: 0.77-2.04) in the middle group and 1.85 (95% CI: 1.11-3.09) in the low group when compared to the high group. Compared to the low BMI plus high muscle strength group, adjusted odds ratio for ML was significantly higher in the high BMI plus low muscle strength group (2.65, 95% CI: 1.02-6.87) and the high BMI plus middle muscle strength group (3.09, 95% CI: 1.25-7.61). Our findings indicate that the combination of overweight plus muscle weakness is more predictive for having ML than overweight or muscle weakness alone.
