Don't fall for weight: A systematic review of weight status and falls

Aim: To examine the evidence for the contribution of weight status or nutritional status to the incidence of falls. Methods: A systematic review was completed to determine if weight status or nutritional status affects incidence of falls. Inclusion/exclusion criteria were applied to studies published from 2000 which reported weight status and/or nutritional status and falls incidence. Electronic databases searched were CINAHL, MEDLINE, AMED, EMBASE, PUBMED and PsycINFO. Quality assessment and data extraction were performed on studies that met the inclusion criteria. Results: Twenty‐seven studies met the inclusion criteria. Six studies found no difference in weight between fallers and non‐fallers. Two studies found an association between low weight or weight loss and falls. Eleven studies found no difference in body mass index between fallers and non‐fallers. One study found body mass index to be lower in fallers. Five studies found fallers had a higher body mass index than non‐fallers or that a higher body mass index was associated with falls. Three studies found malnutrition risk to be statistically significantly higher in fallers. Two descriptive studies identified 45% of a falls population as malnourished or at high risk of malnutrition. Conclusion: This review found limited evidence that being either overweight or underweight increases falls incidence. Referrals for nutritional management to decrease falls risk should not be based on weight status alone. Malnutrition screening should be used to identify appropriate patient referrals to dietitians in falls clinics.