Abstract
ABSTRACTIntroduction: To a vast extent the body’s ageing process affects changes in the human nutritional status and body composition. The nutritional status of elderly people is assessed by means of nutritional history, physical examinations, somatometric measurements, biochemical and immunological tests. Moreover, survey tools (questionnaires, scales) are used in order to perform a screening and in-depth analysis of food intake and nutrition in the elderly. Today, an accurate assessment of body composition is conducted by means of specialist devices, such as those used for bioelectrical impedance analysis and dual X-ray absorptiometry.The objective of the thesis was to analyse the usage of selected anthropometric measurements in correspondence with an mini nutritional assessment (MNA) in studies on the identification of undernourishment in seniors, with consideration of some of the initiating factors of nourishment disorders in the population of the elderly.Methods: A review of articles considered essential from the point of view of the study objective was performed by analysing the PubMed database. The search query used was: “mini nutritional assessment MNA elderly”.Results: Nutritional status measured with the MNA may evaluate the way seniors feel. Overweight and obesity usually results in a worse assessment of the quality of the elderly’s life. A disordered nutritional status could stem from a range of medical, psychological and social factors.Conclusions: The results of anthropometric measurements are essential for an optimal identification of the risk of undernourishment in senior citizens by means of an MNA. They also complement information onthe initiating factors of eating disorders in the population of elderly people. In order to be able to widely use anthropometric measurements to complement knowledge on the nutritional status of the elderly, it is indispensable to conduct studies among healthy senior citizens to obtain information that will serve as reference data.
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