Association of Abdominal Circumference with Stepping Reaction Time and Functional Balance Among Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background and Objectives: Abdominal obesity significantly impacts postural control and fall risk, yet its specific association with stepping reaction time (SRT), a critical component of balance recovery, remains underexplored in obese individuals. This study investigated the relationship between abdominal circumference (AC) and SRT while considering gender and body mass index (BMI). Materials and Methods: Cross-sectional observational study conducted at Majmaah University Virtual Reality Laboratory using advanced motion capture technology. In this cross-sectional study, 199 adults (104 males, 89 females) underwent AC measurement and SRT assessment using the Stability and Balance Learning Environment Apparatus (STABLE) with motion capture technology. Multiple linear regression analyses were performed to identify associations between the variables. Results: The regression model for right SRT was statistically significant (F(8, 184) = 10.24, p < 0.001), explaining 30.8% of variance. Limits of stability with legs apart was negatively associated with right SRT (β = −0.144, p = 0.039), while left SRT was strongly associated (β = 0.451, p < 0.001). AC did not show any association with either right or left SRT. Males demonstrated significantly faster left SRT than females (b = −0.061, p = 0.048), and age was positively associated with left SRT (β = 0.203, p = 0.002). Conclusions: While AC shows correlation with overall obesity measures, it is not significantly associated with stepping reaction time when evaluated concurrently with balance performance and demographic factors. Limits of stability, age, and gender were more consistently associated with stepping reaction time. The cross-sectional design of this study precludes causal inference; longitudinal investigations are necessary to confirm these associations before implementing targeted fall prevention strategies.