Gait speed and body mass index: Results from the AMI study

PLoS One. 2020 Mar 10;15(3):e0229979. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0229979. eCollection 2020.

Abstract

Background: While physical frailty and malnutrition/obesity (parameters easily measured by a nurse) are not the same, older persons who are malnourished/obese are more likely to be frail and there is a potential overlap between these conditions. The objective was to examine the relationship between gait speed (GS) and body mass index (BMI) in men and women aged 75 years and older.

Design: Cross-sectional analysis.

Setting, participants: Data from the Aging Multidisciplinary Investigation (AMI), a French prospective cohort study with participants randomly selected from the farmer Health Insurance rolls.

Measurements: Usual GS was measured over a 4 meters-track. BMI was categorized using clinical cut-points for European populations: (e.g, <20.0 kg/m2; 20.0-24.9 kg/m2; 25.0-29.9 kg/m2; 30.0-34.9 kg/m2; ≥35.0 kg/m2).

Results: The current analyses were performed in 449 participants. Mean age was 81 years. Being malnourished/obese was significantly associated with slow GS. Unadjusted and age-adjusted models showed that underweight, overweight and obesity statuses were significantly associated with slow GS for both women (0.83m/s [0.61; 1.04], 0.87m/s [0.72; 1.02], 0.70 m/s [0.41; 0.98], respectively) and men (0.83m/s [0.61; 1.04], 1.11m/s [1.03; 1.20], 0.97m/s [0.75; 1.19], respectively).

Conclusion: Malnourished/obese are associated with slow GS in older persons. These variables could be contributed at comprehensively and complementarily assessing the older person.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Aging / physiology
  • Body Mass Index
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Female
  • Frailty / diagnosis*
  • Frailty / etiology
  • Frailty / physiopathology
  • Geriatric Assessment / methods*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Malnutrition / complications*
  • Malnutrition / physiopathology
  • Overweight / complications*
  • Overweight / physiopathology
  • Prospective Studies
  • Risk Factors
  • Walking Speed / physiology

Grants and funding

The AMI project was funded by AGRICA(CAMARCA, CRCCA, CCPMA PREVOYANCE, CPCEA, AGRI PREVOYANCE), la Mutualité Sociale Agricole(MSA) de Gironde, la Caisse Centrale de la Mutualité Sociale Agricole (CCMSA). The AGRICA Group is a specialist for companies and employees of the agricultural world seeking supplemental pension, savings and healthcare insurance. AGRICA is one of the major French insurance providers offering protection for people employed in the agricultural sector. The other fundings come from the Mutualité Sociale Agricole (MSA), which is the unique Farmer Health Insurance System in France. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript."