Alcohol Energy Intake Is Related to Low Body Mass Index in Japanese Older Adults: Data from the 2010-2011 National Health and Nutrition Survey

The relationship between individual and environmental factors related to health, nutritional status, and diet in elderly people living alone in Japan

Aging is an essential milestone that governments worldwide must plan for. At a global level, Japan currently has the highest share of population older than 65 years. Thus, the Japanese experience may be a useful guide to other countries as they consider their policies. Elderly individuals living alone encounter many challenges typically not faced by those living in a multiperson household. Nutrition status and diet are 2 such challenges, both of which are crucial determinants of health and well-being. The health and nutrition statuses as well as some other factors in elderly individuals living alone in Japan were investigated. The identification of the factors relating to food diversity, social relationships, and physical ability, among others, indicates, as hypothesized, that the relationship between individual and environmental factors is associated with the health, nutritional statuses, and diets of elderly people living alone. The findings and approach may be useful to scholars and policy makers in significantly aging societies like Japan as well as other societies experiencing population aging.

Factors associated with body mass index changes among older adults: a ten-year follow-up

To examine changes in body mass index (BMI) among older Brazilian adults and associated factors. Longitudinal, population-based study, conducted in São Paulo, Brazil. Adults aged 60 years or over (n = 1,796) from the first wave of data collection from the Health, Well-Being, and Aging Study (SABE Project) conducted from 2000 to 2010. Repeated mixed-effects linear regression was used to analyze longitudinal changes in BMI and to examine whether sociodemographic characteristics, health conditions, and social behaviors were associated with these changes. Mean BMI decreased after 70 years. Men had lower BMI than women (β = -1.86, 95%CI: -2.35; -1.37). Older adults who consumed alcohol (β = 0.30, 95%CI: 0.06; 0.54), had more than one chronic disease (β = 0.19, 95%CI: 0.26; 0.72) and who did not perform physical activity (β = 0.56, 95%CI: 0.38; 0.74) had higher BMI. Subjects who smoked (β = -0.40, 95%CI: -0.76; -0.04) and who reported having eaten less food in recent months (β = -0.48, 95%CI: -0.71; -0.24) had lower BMI. In older Brazilians, several sociodemographic characteristics, health conditions, and behaviors predict BMI. Increasing prevalence of chronic diseases and growing sedentary behaviors in Brazil may have detrimental effects on BMI at older ages.

Experimental and observational studies on alcohol use and dietary intake: a systematic review

The scientific literature on links among alcohol use, total energy intake, cardiometabolic disease and obesity is conflicting. To clarify the link between alcohol use and cardiometabolic health, this systematic review (PROSPERO CRD42016039308A) uses PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines to synthesize how alcohol use affects dietary intake (carbohydrate, fat and protein intake) in humans. A search of Google Scholar, PsycINFO and PubMed from June 2016-March 2019 yielded 30 qualified studies. Experimental and observational studies allowed for inferences about effects of a single drinking occasion and of frequent drinking, respectively. Alcohol quantities were standardized according to the 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. On average, methodological quality of the studies was medium strength. Results indicated that a single occasion of light and moderate drinking as well as frequent light and moderate drinking were linked to greater fat and protein intake, albeit the majority of studies did not detect differences in dietary intake due to these drinking behaviours. Frequent heavy drinking, on the other hand, was linked to less carbohydrate intake in the majority of studies. Overall, alcohol use does not appear to uniformly affect diet but instead appears to affect intake of specific macronutrients in a dose-dependent manner, most consistently decreasing carbohydrate intake with heavier use.

Sociodemographic and Lifestyle Factors in relation to Overweight Defined by BMI and "Normal-Weight Obesity"

Sociodemographic factors and lifestyle habits affect body weight and body composition. A new syndrome, called normal-weight obesity (NWO), is found in individuals with normal weight and excess body fat in contrast to lean and overweight individuals. The aim of the present study was to explore the associations between sociodemographic factors and smoking and alcohol habits and lower versus higher BMI (≥25 kg/m²) and to examine whether categorization into lean, NWO, and overweight leads to further information about sociodemographic and lifestyle associations, compared with the common categorization defined by BMI. A cohort of 17,724 participants (9,936 females, 56.1%) from the EpiHealth study, with a median age of 61 (53-67) years, was examined. The participants answered a questionnaire about lifestyle, and weight and fat percentage were measured. Associations between sociodemographic factors and lifestyle habits and lower versus higher BMI, and lean versus NWO or lean and NWO versus overweight were calculated by binary logistic regression. Male sex, age, sick leave/disability, married/cohabitating, divorced/widowed, former smoking, and a high alcohol consumption were associated with higher BMI, whereas higher education and frequent alcohol consumption were inversely associated (all p < 0.001). The associations were similar to associations with lean versus overweight and NWO versus overweight, except for age in the latter case. Associations with lean versus NWO differed from those of lower versus higher BMI, with an association with retirement, an inverse association with male sex (OR, 0.664; 95% confidence interval, 0.591-0.746), and no associations with marital status, smoking, and alcohol consumption frequency. Associations with age and occupation were sex dependent, in contrast to other variables examined. Thus, sociodemographic and lifestyle habits showed similar associations with lower versus higher BMI as with lean and NWO versus overweight, whereas lean versus NWO showed different directions of associations regarding sex, marital status, occupation, smoking, and frequency of alcohol consumption.