Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10216/100485
Author(s): Morais, Cecília de
Oliveira, Bruno
Afonso, Cláudia
Lumbers, M.
Raats, M.
Almeida, Maria Daniel Vaz de
Title: Nutritional risk of European elderly
Issue Date: 2013
Abstract: BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The elderly constitute a population group with a high prevalence of non-communicable chronicdiseases and high risk of malnutrition. The aim of this study was to identify factors associated to nutritional risk in free-livingEuropean elderly.SUBJECTS/METHODS: The sample included 644 European citizens, free living in the community, aged 65 years or more. Thesample was quota controlled for age groups (65-74, X75 years), gender (male/female) and living circumstances (living alone/withothers). Logistic regression was performed to identify factors associated with nutritional risk.RESULTS: Several variables regarding socio-demographic characteristics, food choice, health status and the satisfaction withfood-related life were included in the analysis. According to the recoded score of the 'Determine your nutritional health' (NSIchecklist), 53% of the elderly were at nutritional risk. Nutritional risk was more likely to occur in elderly who considered that it wasmore important to choose foods 'easy to chew'; with lower average number of fruit and vegetables (F&V) intake episodes and lowerscore for general health. It was also found in non-married participants; those that did not identify changes in their appetite; andthose that felt changes in health status. In this sample, the lowest nutritional risk was found for body mass index (BMI) around18.5 kg/m2. Country of residence, gender and age were not found to have a significant effect on nutritional risk.CONCLUSIONS: Attention should be drawn to the living circumstances, changes in appetite or health, the general heathperception, F&V intake, choice of foods easy to chew and having a low or high BMI.
Subject: Ciências da Saúde, Ciências da saúde
Scientific areas: Ciências médicas e da saúde::Ciências da saúde
URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10216/100485
Document Type: Artigo em Revista Científica Internacional
Rights: restrictedAccess
Appears in Collections:FCNAUP - Artigo em Revista Científica Internacional

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