Abstract
Background: Malnutrition in the elderly is a very common problem in developing countries. There are many factors affecting the nutritional status of the elderly, especially the habit of consuming foods. Objective: To determine nutritional status and frequency of food consumption and some factors related to nutritional status among the Khmer elderly people. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted on 614 subjects in 10/17 communes in Tra Cu district, Tra Vinh province in 2020. Results: The rate of malnutrition classified by Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) was 23,9%; and 62,1% was at risk of malnutrition and 14,0% had normal nutritional status. According to Body Mass Index (BMI), the rate of malnutrition was 27,5%; the rate of overweight and obesity was 14,2% and 58,3% had normal nutritional status. The food groups with the highest frequency of consumption were meat, fish, eggs, tofu, and beans. Nutritional status was related to the frequency of food consumption, low level of physical activity and some characteristics of the study subjects. Conclusion: The study results show a high prevalence of malnutrition, an unequal consumption of food groups and some related factors. Therefore, it is necessary to improve behaviors related to lifestyle and proper dietary practice to prevent malnutrition.
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