An assessment of nutritional status of elderly in Bolangir district of Odisha: a community based study

Abstract

Background: Ageing is a physiological process that begins at birth, continues throughout life, and culminates in death. Poor nutrition is not a normal by-product of ageing; older persons are vulnerable to malnutrition due to physiological, psychological, social, nutritional, and environmental risk factors. Objective were to assess the nutritional status of elderly residing in rural areas with special reference to anthropometric measurements. Methods: A community based cross-sectional study was conducted in Mursundi Village at Alagpur block of Bolangir district of Odisha, India. A total of sixty elderly of age 60 years or above were selected for the study through random sampling method. Data was assessed using a well-structured and pretested questionnaire. Information was collected from selected elderly people through personal interview by repeatedly visiting the study area. Results: Out of the total 60 participants, the mean height of the male elderly was 149.5±7.23 cm subsequently mean weight was 50.33±8.89 kg and BMI score (22.97±2.25 kg/m²) of the male elderly was within the normal range. Similarly, the mean height and weight of the female elderly participants were 151.4±7.16 cm and 49.33±6.69 kg respectively while the BMI mean score (21.34±2.94 kg/m²) falls into to the underweight category. About 33.3% of the elderly males were normal, 43.3% underweight and 23.33% from overweight category. Similarly, majority females (26.66%) were normal, 50.0% were underweight and 23.33% from overweight category. Conclusions: Nutritional status of elderly subjects especially among females is very poor as detected in this study. There is need and scope for geriatric nutritional interventions mainly through nutrition education in rural population.