The current evidence on the relationship between a higher body mass index (BMI) and falls in older adults is conflicting. This study, therefore, evaluated the relationship between BMI and falls and explored underlying mechanisms for this relationship. Data from 1,340 individuals from the Malaysian Elders Longitudinal Research study, obtained through home-based computer-assisted interviews and followed by hospital-based health checks, were utilized. A history of the presence of falls in the previous 12 months was obtained. The presence of at least one fall in the past 12 months was associated with a higher BMI (odds ratio = 1.03, 95% confidence interval [1.01, 1.06]). The relationship between a higher BMI and falls was, however, attenuated by a lower percentage of lean body mass, which accounted for 69% of the total effect of BMI on the risk of falls. Future studies should now investigate this aforementioned relationship prospectively.

目前关于老年人较高体重指数 (BMI) 与跌倒之间关系的证据是相互矛盾的。因此，本研究评估了体重指数与跌倒之间的关系，并探讨了这种关系的潜在机制。利用来自马来西亚长者纵向研究的 1,340 名个人的数据，这些数据是通过家庭计算机辅助访谈获得的，并随后进行了医院健康检查。获得过去 12 个月内跌倒的历史。过去 12 个月内至少发生过一次跌倒与较高的 BMI 相关（优势比 = 1.03，95% 置信区间 [1.01, 1.06]）。然而，较高的 BMI 与跌倒之间的关系因去脂体重百分比较低而减弱，该比例占 BMI 对跌倒风险总影响的 69%。未来的研究应该前瞻性地调查上述关系。