Estado nutricional e autopercepção da imagem corporal de idosas de uma Universidade Aberta da Terceira Idade

Prevalence and factors associated with underweight among Brazilian older adults

The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of underweight among older adults according to socio-demographic characteristics in different regions of Brazil as well as determine associated contextual and individual factors. Cross-sectional population-based study with older adults (≥ 65 years) interviewed by telephone survey in 2014. The body mass index was calculated based on weight and height. Associations were determined using Pearson's chi-square test, considering a 5% significance level. Adjusted prevalence ratios were estimated using multilevel Poisson regression. Mean age was 73.3 years and the prevalence of underweight was 15.6% (95%CI: 14.1-17.1%). Higher prevalence rates of underweight were found among women, individuals aged ≥ 80 years, smokers and those who reported the regular consumption of beans. The prevalence rate of underweight was lower among those who reported abusive alcohol intake and those with a medical diagnosis of hypertension. The northern region of the country had the highest prevalence of underweight after adjusting for associated individual factors. The findings demonstrate the subgroups with higher prevalence rates of underweight that demand greater attention from the health services in terms of recovering of an adequate nutritional status.

Nutritional status of elderly assisted in primary care and their relationship with social determinants of health

ABSTRACT Objective To review the influence of social determinants of health in the nutritional status of the elderly assisted in a primary care Unit in a Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil, community. Methods This was a cross-sectional study with an analytical approach. The universe was composed of 129 elderly attending a family health unit in Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil. The data were collected according to a protocol. The effect of the association of independent variables with the body mass index was estimated using hierarchical logistic regression models, simple and multiple multinomial. The significance level was set at 5%. Results There was a higher percentage of elderly people with excess weight (52.34%) in the assessment of body mass index. On analysis of the Mini nutritional assessment, the risk of malnutrition was 38.76%. On analysis of the calf circumference 13.39% of the elderly were malnourished. In the final model, the criteria for maintaining the elderly patients were the following: excess weight, marital status, hypertension, osteoarthritis and sewer destination. Elderly widowers had a higher chance (OR=5.17) of having excess weight and not to have sewage network serving their home and be hypertense (OR=2.71 e 2.83). The fact that the elderly have osteoarthritis also indicated a greater chance (OR=3.76) that they present excess weight. Conclusion Among the social determinants of health, the nutritional status of the elderly was associated with marital status, high blood pressure, osteoarthritis and basic sanitation. The social setting of the elderly is associated with their nutritional status.

Body image satisfaction, nutritional status, anthropometric indicators and quality of life among the elderly

Abstract Objective: to determine the prevalence of body image satisfaction in elderly subjects, as well as its relationship with nutritional status, anthropometric indicators and quality of life. Method: a cross-sectional, descriptive and analytical study was carried out with elderly individuals from Primary Care units (Family Health Strategy) from all the health districts of Porto Alegre, in the state of Rio Grande do Sul. The variables studied were: sociodemographic (gender; age; marital status and schooling), anthropometric (weight; height; body mass index; arm, calf, waist and hip circumference; waist-hip ratio and triceps skinfold), nutritional (Mini Nutritional Assessment), and clinical (quality of life; body image satisfaction). The Stunkard Silhouettes Scale, the Mini Nutritional Assessment and the Flanagan quality of life scale were applied. For data analysis, logistic regression (five steps) was performed with the Conditional Backward method. Results: a total of 532 elderly users (68.96 (7.14) years) were evaluated, mostly women (64.8%) who were dissatisfied with their body image (71.7%). The predictors of body image satisfaction were: eutrophic/underweight body mass index, eutrophy/insufficient arm circumference, and higher mean quality of life scores. Conclusion: in general, a low prevalence of body image satisfaction was identified among the elderly. Subjects with lower body mass index, smaller arm circumference measures and better quality of life had a greater chance of being satisfied with their body image.

[Nutritional status of elderly Brazilians: a multilevel approach]

The objectives of this study were to diagnose the nutritional status of the elderly Brazilian population and to identify associated factors. The study used data from the Brazilian Household Budget Survey (2008/2009) for 20,114 elderly, whose nutritional status was assessed by body mass index (BMI). Associated factors were tested with the Pearson chi-square test and multilevel linear models. The hierarchical analysis showed a significant effect of state of Brazil on BMI variance (p-value = 0.001). The individual level showed a negative association (p-value < 0.001) with Asian-descendant race, male gender, living alone, and older age and a positive association with per capita income. Underweight was more prevalent among elderly in rural areas (26.3%) and in the Northeast (23.7%) and Central regions (20.9%), and obesity was more prevalent in the South (45.1%) and Southeast (38.3%) and in cities (39%). The study suggests the importance of further in-depth research on nutritional status of elderly based on contextual variables.

Avaliação nutricional de idosos: desafios da atualidade

ResumoEntre os maiores problemas de saúde pública no país atualmente, a maioria está relacionada com o estado nutricional. O envelhecimento populacional é uma realidade e traz grandes desafios, especialmente para o setor de saúde. Visto o papel da nutrição na modulação do processo do envelhecimento, na etiologia de doenças e declínios funcionais associados com a idade, a avaliação e o monitoramento nutricional de idosos são necessários para uma assistência adequada e para o planejamento de ações de promoção da saúde. Nesse contexto, o objetivo do presente estudo foi refletir sobre métodos e indicadores propostos para avaliação e acompanhamento nutricional de idosos. Apresenta-se uma síntese do que vem sendo proposto por meio das recomendações do Ministério da Saúde, que orientam a atenção e a vigilância nutricional do idoso no Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS). Os procedimentos relativos ao diagnóstico e acompanhamento do estado nutricional de idosos preconizados, embora sinalizem a importância de se levantar marcadores de consumo alimentar, acabam por dar ênfase ao uso de medidas antropométricas, especialmente o índice de massa corporal. A incorporação de outros indicadores para o monitoramento dos idosos demonstra avanço no reconhecimento de eixos fundamentais que precisam ser incorporados na prática profissional e na rotina da atenção básica. Entretanto, o uso desses marcadores exige que o profissional o faça de forma crítica e integrada em equipe, compreendendo que nenhum indicador isolado satisfará as necessidades de todas as dimensões envolvidas na avaliação nutricional, especialmente tratando-se de idosos.