Commonly measured constructs of mobility included walking , climbing stairs , and lower extremity function .
There was heterogeneity in ways of defining and measuring mobility limitation in older adults living in the community .
Mobility is critical in maintaining independence in older adults .
This study aims to systematic ally review the scientific literature to identify measures of mobility limitation for community-dwelling older adults .
Relative weight and mobility: a longitudinal study in a biracial population of older adults.
PURPOSE We examined the association of relative weight with mobility and changes in mobility over time and whether these associations differed by race . METHODS Data come from a prospect i ve , population -based , observational study of adults aged 65 years or older .  Mobility outcomes were assessed at baseline and two follow-up interviews at 3-year intervals . The study included 4195 participants with a mean age of 73.8 + /- 6.3 ( SD ) years ; 61.4 % were women , and 60.9 % were black . Assessment of mobility included a  brief self-report instrument  and a  performance-based walk test . Body mass index ( BMI , kilograms per square meter ) was used as a measure of relative weight . We used generalized estimating equation models to examine change in mobility outcomes over time as a function of BMI . RESULTS Average BMI was 26.6 + /- 5.7 kg/m(2 ) , with 34.0 % overweight and 23.4 % obese . BMI showed a significant curvilinear association with mobility outcomes at baseline ( p < 0.001 ) , but was not associated with change in mobility during follow-up . Maximum mobility levels occurred at a significantly higher level of BMI among blacks than whites . CONCLUSIONS Higher levels of BMI may lead to mobility impairments earlier in life , but there is little evidence that they increase the rate of decline in mobility in older age itself
Commonly measured constructs of mobility included walking , climbing stairs , and lower extremity function .
There was heterogeneity in ways of defining and measuring mobility limitation in older adults living in the community .
Mobility is critical in maintaining independence in older adults .
This study aims to systematic ally review the scientific literature to identify measures of mobility limitation for community-dwelling older adults .