Jurnal Penelitian Inovatif · Aug 14, 2026
Relationship Between Body Mass Index and Fall Risk Based on the Timed Up and Go Test and Berg Balance Scale in the Elderly at LKSLU Mursyidul Falaah, Kuningan Regency
By Kamaluddin AY, Ramadhan IF, Oddang FM
Aging causes decreases in body composition, muscle strength, and postural control that contribute to an increased risk of falls in the elderly. Body Mass Index (BMI) is often associated with mobility and balance impairments, but evidence regarding the strength of this relationship remains mixed. This study aimed to determine the relationship between BMI and fall risk in the elderly based on the Timed Up and Go Test (TUG) and Berg Balance Scale (BBS). The study design was observational analytic with a cross-sectional approach. A total of 30 elderly individuals at the Elderly Social Welfare Institution (LKSLU) were measured for body weight, height, BMI, TUG time, and BBS score. Respondents were selected using a total sampling technique among elderly individuals who met the inclusion criteria, namely being aged ≥60 years, able to walk independently without assistive devices, and willing to participate in all measurement procedures; elderly individuals with severe cognitive impairment or acute medical conditions that limited mobility were excluded. Data were analyzed using the Shapiro-Wilk normality test and the Spearman correlation test. The study results showed a mean BMI of 24.98 ± 6.01 kg/m², TUG of 12.95 ± 4.01 seconds, and BBS of 51.13 ± 7.42. The Spearman correlation test showed that the relationship between BMI and TUG was very weak and not significant (rho=0.035; p=0.854), while the relationship between BMI and BBS showed a negative correlation direction but did not reach statistical significance (rho=-0.335; p=0.071). It was concluded that in this sample, BMI was not statistically significantly associated with fall risk based on either TUG or BBS. There was a weak negative correlation between BMI and BBS (rho=-0.335), but it was not statistically significant (p=0.071; α=0.05), so a significant relationship between the two variables cannot yet be concluded.. Other factors such as muscle strength, age, and comorbidities are thought to also contribute to balance and functional mobility in the elderly, but all three were not analyzed as variables in this study, thus requiring further investigation.