Nutritional Status of the Elderly: Anthropometric and Clinical Findings

Abstract

Relationships between adiposity indices based on weight and skinfold measurements were examined in 75 women and 25 men, aged 63-96 years. For both men and women, relative weight, weight/height, and body mass index (weight/height²) were positively correlated (p ≤ 0.001) with the triceps and the subscapular skinfold thicknesses. Correlations with the suprailiac skinfold also were significant but of lesser magnitude. Weights of 42% of the subjects exceeded the ideal weight for height by 20% or more; triceps fatfolds of 18% were in the obesity range. One-third of the group was judged to be hypertensive. Relative weight was positively associated with systolic (p ≤ 0.05) and diastolic (p ≤ 0.01) blood pressures. Relative weight was correlated with fasting serum glucose of women (p ≤ 0.01), but unrelated to serum cholesterol concentrations. None of the anthropometric or clinical findings were associated with current level of dietary kilocalories