Associations of Body Composition and Physical Activity with Balance and Walking Ability in the Elderly

Background: The epidemic of sedentary lifestyle and obesity increases the risk of disability with aging. We studied the relationships of body composition, physical activity, and muscular fitness with balance and walking ability. Methods: Men and women, age 70 to 74 y (n = 146), were randomly selected from the Finnish population register. Body composition [body weight, bodymass index (BMI), waist circumference], physical activity (questionnaire), muscular fitness (hand-grip strength), balance (commonly used field tests), and walking ability (20 m walking test) were assessed. Results: BMI (r = –0.287, P < 0.001), waist circumference (r = –0.260, P = 0.002), physical activity (r = 0.206, P = 0.013), and hand-grip strength (r = 0.244, P = 0.003) correlated with balance. BMI (r = 0.330, P < 0.001), waist circumference (r = 0.237, P = 0.004), physical activity (r = –0.252, P = 0.002), and hand-grip strength (r = –0.307, P < 0.001) also correlated with walking time. Conclusions: Overweight and central obesity as well as low muscular fitness associate with impaired balance and walking ability in the elderly.