Objective: To assess ability of balance in community-dwelling elderly people with different body mass index (BMI) using multi-directional reach test (MDRT) test.

Materials and Methods: The cross-sectional study design was used to evaluate the effects of body mass index (BMI) on ability of balance using MDRT in community-dwelling elderly people.

Results: Obese community-dwelling elderly people had the lowest scores in all directions of MDRT when compared with those of normal weight and overweight groups. Furthermore, in overweight group, the scores in all directions of MDRT were significantly reduced compared to those of normal weight group (p<0.05). Moreover, the scores of MDRT were negatively correlated with BMI (p<0.05).

Conclusion: Obese and overweight community-dwelling elderly people had decreased ability of balance. Additionally, BMI was negatively correlated with the scores of MDRT in community-dwelling elderly people.

Keywords: Body mass index; Multi-directional reach test; Falls; Elderly; Balance

DOI: doi.org/10.35755/jmedassocthai.2021.12.13003

Received 17 May 2021 | Revised 23 August 2021 | Accepted 23 August 2021