Relationship between elderly body mass index and motor performance in peer groups

Abstract

This analytical, cross-sectional and quantitative study aimed at investigating the relationship between body mass index and motor performance of elderly who participated in a peer group. The study site was a elderly’ peer group that included 82 people, in the municipality of Vitória da Conquista-BA (Brazil). A statistically significant difference between the variables body mass index (above 27 kg/m2) and limited balance (p-value=0,008), and between body mass index (above 27 kg/m2) and limitation to squat and pick a pencil from the floor (p-value=0.004) was found by applying the Chi-square test. This study found that the body mass index (above 27 kg/m2) negatively influenced the following activities in the elderly: balance and squat to pick up a pencil from the floor.