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Abstract
Obesity is a major and growing health concern associated with a risk of falls. While obese individuals exhibit increased sway during quiet standing, most falls result from some type of postural perturbation. This study investigated effects of obesity on balance recovery from small forward postural perturbations. Altogether, 20 males, 10 normal weight (BMI: 21.9 ± 1.4) and 10 obese (BMI: 33.2 ± 2.3), received force (pendulum) and position (release from a static lean angle) perturbations. Obese individuals showed less centre of mass (COM) displacements and slower COM velocities than normal weight individuals following force perturbations. However, when force was normalised by body weight, and when released from identical lean angles, no differences in COM performance were found. Despite differences in quiet standing due to obesity in the absence of any externally applied perturbations, these results show no differences in balance recovery from small externally applied perturbations. Additional research is needed to determine the source of increased fall risk in the obese.
Statement of Relevance: Obesity is associated with an increased risk of falls. Understanding how obesity affects balance is important for designing safe workplace environments and tasks. Despite prior research showing poorer balance in the obese during quiet standing, these results show no negative effects of obesity on balance recovery after small postural perturbations.