Composição corporal e estado nutricional de idosos ativos e sedentários: sexo e idade são fatores intervenientes?

Abstract

Considering the functional changes and in view of the changes in body composition to which the elderly are exposed, itis necessary to conduct studies that seek to verify the influence of variables such as sex and age on body composition andnutritional status in this population. This study compared body composition and nutritional status among physically activeand sedentary elderly people according to sex and age. 651 elderly users of Basic Health Units in Maringa-PR participated,who answered the Mini Nutritional Assessment and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. Data analysis wasperformed using the Kolmogorov-Smirnov, Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney U tests (p<0.05). The results showed thatirregularly active men had a lower weight, waist circumference and body mass index than active and sedentary men.Sedentary men had a greater hip circumference than the other groups, while the active ones had a higher score in themini nutritional assessment. Active women had a lower waist-to-hip ratio than irregularly active and sedentary women. Inaddition, irregularly active men reported a poorer nutritional status than active and sedentary men. It was concluded thatthe level of physical activity can be considered an intervening factor in the body composition of the elderly, especiallyamong males, in addition to interfering in the nutritional status of the elderly over 70 years old.