Other Titles
Exploring the Body Composition Status of Residents in Psychiatric Nursing Homes in Taiwan Using InBody Analysis [Poster Title]
Abstract
Purpose: Residents of psychiatric nursing homes often experience chronic mental illness, prolonged psychotropic medication use, and limited physical activity, all of which contribute to reduced muscle mass and altered body composition. These conditions increase the risk of falls, obesity, metabolic syndrome, sarcopenia, and functional decline. This study assessed the body composition of residents in Taiwanese psychiatric nursing homes using the InBody analyzer to inform future health-promotion and nutrition interventions.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from April to August 2024 in a psychiatric nursing home in central Taiwan. Eighty-three residents (44 men, 39 women) were included; individuals with acute psychiatric symptoms or significant mobility limitations were excluded. Measurements obtained using the InBody 270 included BMI, percent body fat (PBF), visceral fat level, waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), skeletal muscle mass index (SMI), height, and weight. Age, sex, and primary diagnosis were also collected. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics.
Results: Participants had a mean age of 66.6 years, and 53% were male. Primary diagnoses were schizophrenia (84.3%), dementia (10.8%), and organic mental disorders (4.8%). Most residents had BMI values within the normal range (71.1%), with 26.5% overweight and 1.2% obese. Despite this, abnormal body fat levels were common: 90.9% of men and 74.4% of women exceeded sex-specific PBF reference values. Visceral fat was elevated in 39.8% of residents. Abnormal WHR was observed in 34.1% of men and 56.4% of women. Low SMI was found in 61.4% of men and 56.4% of women, indicating a high prevalence of sarcopenia risk. Overall, the sample showed a pattern of low muscle mass and excessive fat accumulation, suggesting increased vulnerability to cardiometabolic diseases.
Conclusion: Residents of psychiatric nursing homes demonstrated marked muscle loss and high body fat, likely associated with chronic illness, medication effects, and sedentary lifestyles. Routine body composition monitoring, nutritional counseling, and structured physical activity programs are recommended to mitigate sarcopenia, preserve function, and reduce long-term disability.
Notes
References:
Marthoenis, M., Martina, M., Alfiandi, R., Dahniar, D., Asnurianti, R., Sari, H., Nassimbwa, J., & Arafat, S. M. Y. (2022). Investigating Body Mass Index and Body Composition in Patients with Schizophrenia: A Case-Control Study. Schizophrenia Research and Treatment, 2022, 1381542.
Cheng, K. Y., Chow, S. K., Hung, V. W., Wong, C. H., Wong, R. M., Tsang, C. S., Kwok, T., & Cheung, W. H. (2021). Diagnosis of sarcopenia using bioimpedance analysis validated with dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Journal of Cachexia, Sarcopenia and Muscle, 12(6), 2163–2173.
Larsen, M. N., Krustrup, P., Araujo Povoas, S. C., & Castagna, C. (2021). Accuracy and reliability of the InBody 270 multi-frequency body composition analyser in children. PLOS ONE, 16(3), e0247362.
Simkova, S. S., Dvorackova, O., & Veleminsky, M. (2022). Assessment of healthy lifestyles in relation to BMI. Neuro Endocrinology Letters, 43(7–8), 393–399.
Wang, X., Yang, D., Li, J., Jin, L., Xia, S., & Jin, F. (2025). Association between menopause-related symptoms and muscle mass index among peri- and postmenopausal women and the mediating role of estrogen levels. Frontiers in Endocrinology, 16, 1628612.
Bielec, G., Gozdziejewska, A., Langhammer, B., & Boryslawski, K. (2023). Body Composition of Master Swimmers before and after the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Longitudinal Study. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 12(22), 6992.
Deng, Y., Ma, T., Ngai, F. W., Wang, H. H., Yang, L., Sun, Q., & Xie, Y. J. (2024). Association of a healthy lifestyle index with anthropometric indices and obesity in Hong Kong Chinese women: Evidence from the MECH-HK cohort study. Obesity Research & Clinical Practice, 18(6), 401–408.
Sigma Membership
Non-member
Type
Poster
Format Type
Text-based Document
Study Design/Type
Cross-Sectional
Research Approach
Quantitative Research
Keywords:
Long-Term Care, Health Equity or Social Determinants of Health, Public and Community Health, Psychiatric Nursing Home, InBody, Body Composition, Health Promotion, Taiwan
Recommended Citation
Cheng, Ya-mei; Lin, Wan-Leng; Huang, Yao-hui; Wang, Chieh-yi; and Lin, Jun-Dai, "Body Composition of Psychiatric Nursing Home Residents in Taiwan Assessed by InBody" (2026). International Nursing Research Congress (INRC). 59.
https://www.sigmarepository.org/inrc/2026/posters_2026/59
Conference Name
37th International Nursing Research Congress
Conference Host
Sigma Theta Tau International
Conference Location
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Conference Year
2026
Rights Holder
All rights reserved by the author(s) and/or publisher(s) listed in this item record unless relinquished in whole or part by a rights notation or a Creative Commons License present in this item record. All permission requests should be directed accordingly and not to the Sigma Repository. All submitting authors or publishers have affirmed that when using material in their work where they do not own copyright, they have obtained permission of the copyright holder prior to submission and the rights holder has been acknowledged as necessary.
Review Type
Abstract Review Only: Reviewed by Event Host
Acquisition
Proxy-submission
Date of Issue
2026-08-05
Body Composition of Psychiatric Nursing Home Residents in Taiwan Assessed by InBody
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Purpose: Residents of psychiatric nursing homes often experience chronic mental illness, prolonged psychotropic medication use, and limited physical activity, all of which contribute to reduced muscle mass and altered body composition. These conditions increase the risk of falls, obesity, metabolic syndrome, sarcopenia, and functional decline. This study assessed the body composition of residents in Taiwanese psychiatric nursing homes using the InBody analyzer to inform future health-promotion and nutrition interventions.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from April to August 2024 in a psychiatric nursing home in central Taiwan. Eighty-three residents (44 men, 39 women) were included; individuals with acute psychiatric symptoms or significant mobility limitations were excluded. Measurements obtained using the InBody 270 included BMI, percent body fat (PBF), visceral fat level, waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), skeletal muscle mass index (SMI), height, and weight. Age, sex, and primary diagnosis were also collected. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics.
Results: Participants had a mean age of 66.6 years, and 53% were male. Primary diagnoses were schizophrenia (84.3%), dementia (10.8%), and organic mental disorders (4.8%). Most residents had BMI values within the normal range (71.1%), with 26.5% overweight and 1.2% obese. Despite this, abnormal body fat levels were common: 90.9% of men and 74.4% of women exceeded sex-specific PBF reference values. Visceral fat was elevated in 39.8% of residents. Abnormal WHR was observed in 34.1% of men and 56.4% of women. Low SMI was found in 61.4% of men and 56.4% of women, indicating a high prevalence of sarcopenia risk. Overall, the sample showed a pattern of low muscle mass and excessive fat accumulation, suggesting increased vulnerability to cardiometabolic diseases.
Conclusion: Residents of psychiatric nursing homes demonstrated marked muscle loss and high body fat, likely associated with chronic illness, medication effects, and sedentary lifestyles. Routine body composition monitoring, nutritional counseling, and structured physical activity programs are recommended to mitigate sarcopenia, preserve function, and reduce long-term disability.
Description
This study utilized the InBody body composition analyzer to evaluate the body composition of residents in psychiatric nursing homes in Taiwan. The findings revealed that most residents had insufficient muscle mass and excessive body fat, particularly among female residents. Regular monitoring and individualized exercise and nutrition interventions are recommended to improve residents’ body composition and enhance their quality of life.