FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH THE NUTRITIONAL STATUS OF ELDERLY PARTICIPANTS OF THE STUDY “EPIFLORIPA IDOSO”

Abstract

Objective: To determine the association between nutritional status and demographic, socioeconomic, lifestyle, and health condition factors in the elderly. Methods: A population-based, cross-sectional study, held in 2009, with 1705 elderly in Florianópolis. Nutritional status was assessed by body mass index. We analyzed the data using a multinomial logistic regression. Results: The prevalence of under- and overweight was 7.7% and 56.8% in women, respectively, and 9.9% and 44.9% in men. In women, being overweight was associated with being insufficiently active, three or more comorbidities, and disability in daily living activities. In men, underweight was associated with being single, less educated, and lack of Internet use, whereas overweight was associated with lower incomes, being a former smoker, moderate/severe disability, and poorer health perception. In men 80 years of age or older, income in the third quartile and smoking were associated with low and overweight, respectively. Conclusions: In women, nutritional status was associated with modifiable lifestyle habits, chronic diseases and disabilities. In men, it was related to sociodemographic factors. Thus, strategies to maintain the nutritional status of women and men must be differentiated. DOI: 10.12957/demetra.2016.22093

Keywords

• estado nutricional
• idoso
• estudos transversais.