Self-Assessed Kyphosis and Chewing Disorders Predict Disability and Mortality in Community-Dwelling Older Adults

Objective

It is clear that each trend of kyphosis with increased age and the ability to eat firm foods with the back teeth (chewing ability) has a strong influence on both the physical and mental condition of older people. Thus, this study aimed to examine whether the combination of kyphosis and chewing disorders was associated with mortality or the need for care under the new long-term care insurance (LTCI) service requirement, over 3 years in community-dwelling older Japanese adults.

Two-Year Weight Loss but Not Body Mass Index Predicts Mortality and Disability in an Older Japanese Community-Dwelling Population

ObjectivePrevious studies in older populations have shown a cardioprotective effect for obesity, an observation known as the obesity paradox. However, whether a decrease or increase in body weight over a certain period affects disability and mortality in older adults remains unknown. Hence, we examined whether the percent body weight change can predict the risk of mortality and disability in older Japanese adults.DesignWe performed a longitudinal prospective cohort study.Setting and participantsWe investigated 1229 community-dwelling older adults (aged ≥65 years) living in Japan.MethodsParticipants were divided into 3 groups (weight loss, stable weight, and weight gain) based on percentage body weight change (using 1 standard deviation from the mean as cutoff points) between 2011 and 2013. Death and disability incidences were monitored between April 2013 and March 2016. Disability was defined as the need for new long-term care insurance (LTCI).ResultsThe rates of death and new LTCI requests over the 3-year follow-up were 2.4% and 4.7%, respectively. The weight loss group (reduction >4.8%) had a 5.0% death rate and an 11.1% new LTCI rate, which were significantly higher than those in the stable weight (1.6% and 3.8%, respectively) and weight gain (ie, gain >3.1%) groups (3.9% and 4.7%, respectively). Cox regression analysis confirmed a higher risk for death [hazard ratio (HR) = 3.10, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.31-7.31] and new LTCI requests (HR = 3.03, 95% CI = 1.69-5.43) only in the weight loss group. The body mass index did not significantly influence the risk of death or disability.Conclusions/ImplicationsWeight loss over 2 years but not body mass index was associated with a higher death and disability risk during the subsequent 3-year follow-up period among older participants. Weight change surveillance can improve the quality of health care by early identifying frailty and death risk population.     

The Association of Dietary Patterns and Weight Change in Rural Older Adults 75 Years and Older

Little is known about the relationship between weight change and dietary patterns (DP) in older adults, especially in those of advanced age (≥75 years). We examined the association of DP with obesity and five-year weight change in community-dwelling older adults (n = 270; mean ± SD age: 78.6 ± 3.9 years). Dietary data were collected from four, random, 24-hour dietary recalls over a 10-month period. Weight change was examined as: (1) 10-pound weight loss; (2) 10-pound weight gain; (3) 10% weight loss; and (4) 10% weight gain. Cluster analysis was used to derive 3 DP (“Health-conscious,” “Sweets and dairy,” and “Western”). Kaplan-Meier plots and Cox proportional hazards regression models were used. About 39% of participants lost at least 10 pounds during follow up. In the unadjusted model, five-year weight loss was not associated with dietary pattern. However, when stratified by gender, females who were characterized by the Sweets and Dairy and the Western DP were three and two times more likely to lose 10 pounds, respectively, compared to those in the Health-conscious DP (P < 0.05). These observations suggest that it is appropriate to recommend a Health-conscious DP for women 75 years and older who may be at risk for weight loss.     

Nutritional Risk and 5-Year Mortality of Older Community-Dwelling Canadian Men: The Manitoba Follow-Up Study

This study examines nutritional risk and 5-year mortality rates of community-dwelling older Canadian men participating in the Manitoba Follow-Up Study. The surviving cohort (n = 690; mean age = 86.8 years) was mailed a self-administered Nutrition Survey consisting of SCREEN II, a validated nutrition risk screening tool and health-related questions. Five hundred fifty-three completed surveys (80% completion rate) were returned, with 522 (94%) containing complete responses necessary to score nutritional risk, comprising the participants for this analysis. Forty-four percent of the 522 respondents were scored as high risk, 24% at moderate risk, and 32% at low risk. Over five years from 2007 to 2012, 212 (41%) of the men died, with 1-year, 2-year, 3-year, and 4-year survival rates of 92%, 86%, 77%, and 66%, respectively. Men in the lowest 40th percentile of the nutritional risk distribution accounted for half of all deaths. Adjusted for other characteristics, Cox proportional hazard models demonstrated that with each unit decline on the nutritional risk scale there was a 4% greater risk of mortality (hazard ratio = 0.96 [95% CI 0.94,0.98]). Early identification of older men at nutritional risk and timely nutrition interventions are essential in delaying the progression of morbidity and mortality.     

Osteosarcopenia Predicts Falls,Fractures, and Mortality in Chilean Community-Dwelling Older Adults

ObjectivesThe objective of this study was to describe the prevalence of osteosarcopenia and its association with falls, fractures, and mortality in community-dwelling older adults.DesignFollow-up of ALEXANDROS cohorts designed to study disability associated with obesity in older adults.Setting and ParticipantsCommunity-dwelling people aged 60 years and older living in Chile.MeasuresAt baseline, 1119 of 2372 participants had a dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry scan and the measurements for the diagnosis of sarcopenia. World Health Organization standards for bone mineral density were used to classify them as normal, osteopenia, and osteoporosis. Sarcopenia was identified using the algorithm from the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People 1, validated for the Chilean population.Osteosarcopenia was defined as having sarcopenia plus osteoporosis or osteopenia.ResultsThe sample of 1119 participants (68.5% female) had a mean age of 72 years. At baseline, osteoporosis was identified in 23.2%, osteopenia in 49.8%, sarcopenia in 19.5%, and osteosarcopenia in 16.4% of the sample. The prevalence of osteosarcopenia increases with age, reaching 33.7% for those older than 80 years. Sarcopenia was found in 34.4% of osteoporotic people and osteoporosis in 40.8% of those with sarcopenia. After 5640 person-years of follow-up, 86 people died. The mortality was significantly higher for the group with osteosarcopenia (15.9%) compared with those without the condition (6.1%). After an adjusted Cox Regression analysis, the hazard ratio for death in people with osteosarcopenia was 2.48. Falls, fractures, and functional impairment were significantly more frequent in osteosarcopenic patients.Conclusions and ImplicationsOsteosarcopenia is a common condition among older adults and is associated with an increased risk of falls, fractures, functional impairment, and mortality. Considering the high proportion of sarcopenia among osteoporotic patients and vice versa, screening for the second condition when the first is suspected should be advised.     

Eating Slowly Is Associated with Undernutrition among Community-Dwelling Adult Men and Older Adult Women

The double burden of malnutrition refers to the co-occurrence of overweight and obesity and undernutrition. Eating quickly has been linked to overweight and obesity. However, no study has examined the association between eating speed and undernutrition. This retrospective, cross-sectional study analyzed data from 3529 community-dwelling residents. Eating speed was divided into three categories: fast, medium, and slow. Undernutrition was defined as body mass index (BMI) of <18.5 kg/m² in adults aged < 70 years (adults) and as <20 kg/m² in adults aged ≥ 70 years (older adults), in accordance with the Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition criteria for Asians. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to examine the association between eating speed and undernutrition. Among adult men, compared with eating quickly, eating slowly was associated with elevated prevalence of undernutrition (odds ratio (OR) 9.68, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.32–40.51, p = 0.001). Among older adult women, the prevalence of undernutrition in the slow-eating group was higher than that in the fast-eating group (OR 3.82, 95% Cl 1.51–9.69, p = 0.005). Eating slowly is independently associated with the prevalence of undernutrition among community-dwelling adult men and older adult women in Japan.     

The Influence of Dysphagia on Nutritional and Frailty Status among Community-Dwelling Older Adults

Malnutrition is a core symptom of the frailty cycle in older adults. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether dysphagia influences nutrition or frailty status in community-dwelling older adults. The study participants were 320 Japanese community-dwelling older adults aged ≥65 years. All participants completed a questionnaire survey that included items on age, sex, family structure, self-rated health, nutritional and frailty status, and swallowing function. Nutritional status was categorized as malnourished, at risk of malnutrition, and well-nourished based on the Mini Nutrition Assessment-Short Form. The participants were then classified into a malnutrition (malnourished/at risk) or a well-nourished group (well-nourished). Frailty was assessed using the Cardiovascular Health Study criteria. The participants were then divided into a frailty (frail/pre-frail) or a non-frailty group (robust). Dysphagia was screened using the 10-item Eating Assessment Tool. Multiple logistic regression analysis was conducted to determine whether dysphagia was associated with nutritional or frailty status. The results revealed that dysphagia influenced both nutrition (odds ratio [OR]: 4.0; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.9–8.2) and frailty status (OR: 2.3; 95% CI: 1.0–5.2); therefore, the swallowing function would be an important factor for community-dwelling older adults on frailty prevention programs.     

The Combined Effects of Dietary Diversity and Frailty on Mortality in Older Taiwanese People

Objective: To assess the prospective association between frailty and dietary diversity on mortality. Method: This prospective cohort study used the 2005–2008 Nutrition and Health Survey in Taiwan (N = 330; age ≥ 65 years) and this was linked to the Death Registry where we used the data that was recorded up to 31 January 2020. Dietary intake information was assessed using a 24-h dietary recall and food-frequency questionnaire, which were calculated a dietary diversity score (DDS; range, 0–6) and food consumption frequency. Assessment of frailty phenotypes was based on FRAIL scale which was proposed by the International Academy on Nutrition and Aging. Results: Frail older adults had a higher risk of all-cause mortality when they were compared to those with robust physiologies (hazard ratio [HR]: 3.73, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.13–6.52). Frailty and a lower DDS were associated with a higher risk of mortality (joint adjusted HR: 2.30, 95% CI: 1.11–4.75) which, compared with a robust physiology and higher DDS, were associated with a lower risk of mortality. Conclusions: Frailty and a lower DDS were associated with a higher mortality. Prefrailty and frailty with a higher DDS were associated with a lower risk of mortality when compared with those with prefrailty and frailty and a lower DDS. These results suggest that eating a wide variety of foods might reduce the risk of mortality in older adults with prefrailty and frailty.     

Relationship Between Oral Health and Fractures in Community-Dwelling Older Japanese Adults

ObjectiveTo investigate the relationship between poor oral health and the incidence of fall-related fractures in older Japanese individuals.DesignA 9-year prospective cohort study.Setting and ParticipantsParticipants comprised 937 community-dwelling older Japanese adults aged 70 years or older. They all lived in the Tsurugaya district, a suburban area of Sendai city, and underwent comprehensive geriatric assessment, including an oral examination, in a public facility.MeasurementsThe exposure variables were related to oral health status (posterior occlusal support, number of remaining teeth, and occlusal force). The outcome measure was the incidence of fall-related fractures, which was determined by National Health Insurance data. Analyzed covariates included age, sex, medical history, smoking, alcohol drinking, educational level, depressive symptoms, cognitive impairment, physical function, body mass index, and history of falls. Statistical relationships were examined by calculating hazard ratios (HRs) at 95% confidence intervals (CIs) using the Cox proportional hazard model.ResultsIn the multivariate analysis, the HRs of fall-related fractures were significantly higher in those with unilateral posterior occlusal support (HR, 2.72; 95% CI, 1.13-6.55) and no posterior occlusal support (HR, 2.58; 95% CI, 1.29-5.15) than in those with bilateral posterior occlusal support. The HRs (95% CIs) of fall-related fractures in individuals with 10-19 and 1-9 teeth and edentulous individuals were 1.77 (0.81-3.89), 2.67 (1.24-5.75), and 2.31 (1.01-5.28), respectively, compared to those with ≥20 teeth.Conclusions and ImplicationsPoor oral health status is a risk factor for the incidence of fall-related fractures in community-dwelling older Japanese individuals. The findings suggest that attention should be focused on oral health status to further understand the risk of fall-related fractures among community-dwelling older adults.     

The Impact of Influenza Vaccination on Hospitalizations and Mortality Among Frail Older People

ObjectivesThe objective of this study was to evaluate the benefits of influenza vaccination against hospitalization and mortality on frail elderly people.DesignThe design was a population-based retrospective cohort study.SettingTaiwan's National Health Insurance claims data.ParticipantsParticipants were 5063 frail seniors, followed up for four years.MeasurementsMeasurements included age, gender, socioeconomic status, living areas, use of annual health examinations, comorbid conditions, use of influenza vaccine, frailty as defined by the Adjusted Clinical Group, hospitalization, and mortality in the observation period. The efficacy was presented as comparing ever versus never vaccinated people during the entire study period without regard to seasons.ResultsCompared with those without influenza vaccination, vaccinated elderly individuals were younger, more likely to be men, have higher socioeconomic status, live in rural areas, have a higher rate of receiving a health examination, and have similar medical conditions. In the Cox proportional hazards analysis, influenza vaccination reduced by 7% the risk of hospitalization (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.86–0.99) and by 44% the risk of mortality (95% CI 0.51–0.62).ConclusionInfluenza vaccination was effective against hospitalization and mortality among the frail elderly. These results uphold the current universal influenza vaccination policy, and encourage policymakers to adopt strategies to improve vaccination use.     

Early-Adulthood Weight Change and Later Physical Activity in Relation to Cardiovascular and All-Cause Mortality: NHANES 1999–2014

Limited evidence investigated the combined influence of early-adulthood weight change and later physical activity on the risk of cardiovascular (CVD) and all-cause mortality. The aim of this study is to explore the associations of early-adulthood weight change and later physical activity with CVD and all-cause mortality. This is a cohort study of 23,193 US adults aged 40 to 85 years from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 1999 to 2014. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to calculate hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of CVD and all-cause mortality associated with early-adulthood weight change and later physical activity. During a median follow-up of 9.2 years, there were 533 and 2734 cases of CVD and all-cause deaths. Compared with being physically inactive, the HRs of the CVD mortality of being physically active were 0.44 (0.26 to 0.73), 0.58 (0.19 to 1.82), 0.38 (0.17 to 0.86) and 0.46 (0.21 to 1.02) among individuals with stable normal, stable obese, non-obese to obese and maximum overweight early-adulthood weight change patterns. Using stable normal patterns that were physically active later as the reference, other early-adulthood weight change patterns did not show a significantly higher risk of CVD mortality when participants were physically active in later life; later physically inactive participants had a significantly increased risk of CVD mortality, with HRs of 2.17 (1.30 to 3.63), 5.32 (2.51 to 11.28), 2.59 (1.29 to 5.18) and 2.63 (1.32 to 5.26) in the stable normal, stable obese, non-obese to obese and maximum overweight groups, respectively. Similar results can be seen in the analyses for all-cause mortality. Our findings suggest that inadequate physical activity worsens the negative impact of unhealthy early-adulthood weight change patterns, which is worthy of being noted in the improvement of public health.     

The Association of Healthy Lifestyle Behaviors with Overweight and Obesity among Older Adults from 21 Countries

This study aimed to analyze the association of healthy lifestyle behaviors with overweight and obesity among Europeans aged 65+ years. Data were from the 2014 European Social Survey, analyzing 21 countries. Five lifestyle behaviors (physical activity, fruit and vegetable consumption, sleep quality, drinking alcohol, and smoking) were analyzed. Binary logistic regressions were performed. A total of 8938 participants (4099 men) 65 years and older, mean age—73.6 (SD: 6.6) presented prevalence of overweight of 42.3% (95% CI: 41.3 to 43.3) and obesity of 20.9% (95% CI: 20.1 to 21.8). Adopting five healthy behaviors was associated with lower odds of obesity (OR = 0.50, 95% CI: 0.39 to 0.63), but not overweight (OR: 0.93; 95% CI: 0.79 to 1.10). Physical activity (≥5 days/week) was the most protective behavior, reducing by 42% the odds of obesity. Sex moderated the association of fruits and vegetables consumption, alcohol use, and smoking with obesity. Strategies aiming to reduce obesity levels in older adults should focus on the promotion of multiple lifestyle health behaviors, particularly physical activity in order to decrease vulnerability risk in old age.     

Dose-Response Relationships Between Body Composition Indices and All-Cause Mortality in Older Japanese Adults

ObjectivesWe examined the dose-response relationships of body composition indices with mortality and identified the best predictor.Design and settingKusatsu Longitudinal Study and Hatoyama Cohort Study, Japan.ParticipantsIn total, 1977 community-dwelling Japanese adults age ≥65 years (966 men and 1011 women) participated.MeasurementsBody mass index (BMI), fat mass index (FMI), fat-free mass index (FFMI), and skeletal muscle mass index (SMI) were determined by segmental multifrequency bioelectrical impedance analysis. The main outcome was all-cause mortality. We determined multivariate-adjusted hazard ratios for mortality relative to sex-specific medians of each body composition index and examined the association shapes.ResultsDuring the median follow-up of 5.3 years, 128 (13.3%) men and 75 (7.4%) women died. Compared with median BMIs (23.3 kg/m² in men and 22.8 kg/m² in women), a BMI >23.3 and ≤26.1 kg/m² was associated with significantly lower mortality risk in men, and a BMI <22.8 kg/m² was associated with significantly higher mortality risk in women. The inverse dose-response relationship with mortality was clearer for FFMI [hazard ratios (95% confidence interval) of 10th and 90th percentiles: 1.58 (1.23–2.03) and 0.58 (0.44–0.79), respectively, in men and 1.56 (1.12–2.16) and 0.68 (0.51–0.91), respectively, in women] and SMI [1.57 (1.22–2.01) and 0.60 (0.45–0.80), respectively, in men and 1.45 (1.05–2.01) and 0.77 (0.61–0.96), respectively, in women] than for BMI [1.30 (0.92–1.83) and 0.65 (0.41–1.03), respectively, in men and 1.87 (1.18–2.95) and 0.88 (0.54–1.42), respectively, in women]. FMI was not associated with mortality in either sex.Conclusions and ImplicationsFFMI and SMI were more definitive predictors of mortality than were BMI and FMI. The lower mortality risk with higher FFMI, regardless of FMI, may explain the age-related weakening of the association between higher BMI and mortality (the “obesity paradox”). FFMI and SMI evaluation should be introduced to clinical assessments of older adults because mortality risk might be reduced by maintaining muscle mass.     

Prevalence of Sarcopenia among Older Community-Dwelling People with Normal Health and Nutritional State

This study analyzed whether sarcopenia, a risk factor for disability in the aged, also occurs in healthy community-dwelling elders with normal nutritional state. As indicators, body cell mass (BCM) and lean body mass (LBM) were determined in 110 Germans (ages 60–83) using bioimpedance analysis. Nutritional status, muscle function, anthropometry, and physical activity level were investigated. Sarcopenia was already present in well nourished healthy elders. Its prevalence depended on the measure of muscle mass used (BCM percent, 22 percent males, 20 percent females; LBM percent, 4 percent males, 11 percent females). In conclusion, screening for presence of sarcopenia is needed in healthy, well-nourished elderly populations requiring an international standardization.     

Association Between Dietary Quality and Mortality in Older Adults: A Review of the Epidemiological Evidence

The population is aging worldwide. Delayed mortality is associated with an increased burden of chronic health conditions, many of which have a dietary component. A literature search was conducted to retrieve and review relevant articles considering quality of diets in association with mortality in older adults aged 60 years and older. In the studies we reviewed, diet quality defined using either a priori methods, which characterize dietary patterns based on existing dietary guidelines, or a posteriori methods, which define dietary patterns through statistical methods met review criteria. Sixteen articles met criteria for review. Generally, dietary patterns that demonstrated greater adherence to diets that emphasized whole fruits and vegetables, whole grains, low-fat dairy, lean meats, and legumes and nuts were inversely associated with mortality. However, a priori methods have not yet demonstrated associations between diet and mortality in older adults in the United States. Development of new methods based on regional variations in dietary intake may offer the best approach to assess associations with mortality.     

Low-Carbohydrate Diets and Mortality in Older Asian People: A 15-Year Follow-Up from a Prospective Cohort Study

The long-term effects of a low-carbohydrate diet (LCD) on mortality, accounting for the quality and source of the carbohydrate, are unclear. Hence, we examined the associations of LCDs with all-cause and cause-specific mortality in a prospective cohort study. A total of 20,206 participants (13.8% diabetes) aged 50+ years were included. Overall, vegetable-based and meat-based LCD scores were calculated based on the percentage of energy as total and subtypes of carbohydrates, fat, and protein. Cox regression analysis was used to calculate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). During 294,848 person-years of follow-up, 4624 deaths occurred, including 3661 and 963 deaths in participants without and with diabetes, respectively. In all participants, overall LCD score was not associated with all-cause and cause-specific mortality, after multivariable adjustment. However, for the highest versus the lowest quartiles of vegetable-based LCD, the adjusted HRs (95%CIs) of all-cause and CVD mortality were 1.16 (1.05–1.27) and 1.39 (1.19–1.62), respectively. The corresponding values for highest versus lowest quartiles of meat-based LCD for all-cause and CVD mortality were 0.89 (0.81–0.97) and 0.81 (0.70–0.93), respectively. Similar associations were found in participants without diabetes. In patients with diabetes, the adjusted HR (95%CI) of CVD mortality for the highest versus the lowest quartiles of vegetable-based LCD was 1.54 (1.11–2.14). Although there were no significant associations with overall LCD score, we found that the vegetable-based LCD score was positively, whereas the meat-based LCD score was negatively, associated with all-cause and CVD mortality in older Asian people.     

Weight Loss and Nutritional Considerations in Alzheimer Disease

ABSTRACT

Weight loss is a common problem among both community-dwelling and institutionalized older adults with Alzheimer disease (AD) and is associated with mortality, morbidity, disease progression, and poor quality of life. The causes of weight loss in this population are multifaceted and include loss of appetite secondary to deterioration of brain regions associated with feeding behavior and functional and behavioral problems associated with AD that make it difficult for individuals to consume adequate energy. The most common weight management strategy is to provide high-energy nutritional supplements to individuals at risk of weight loss. Supplementation is generally effective but tends to be least beneficial for those with the lowest body mass indices. Environmental and social interventions related to mealtimes and feeding are also important.     

Systematic Review of the Effects of Exercise and Physical Activity on the Gut Microbiome of Older Adults

Recent evidence suggests that exercise/physical activity (PA) can beneficially alter the gut microbiome composition of young people, but little is known about its effects in older adults. The aim of this systematic review was to summarize results of human studies that have assessed the effects/associations of PA/exercise on the gut microbiome of older adults and to better understand whether this can help promote healthy ageing. Seven studies were included in the review and overall, exercise and increased amounts of PA were associated with decreases in the abundance of several well-known harmful taxa and increases in the abundance of health-promoting taxa. Altogether, the findings from the included studies suggest that exercise/PA have a beneficial impact on the gut health of older adults by improving the gut microbiome composition. However, due to methodological and sampling disparities, it was not possible to reach a consensus on which taxa were most affected by exercise or PA.     

Body Image Perception and Attempts to Change Weight among Female Medical Students at Mangalore

Background:

Assessing body image self-perception has used BMI as an indicator of nutritional status. The visual analogue scale is a highly effective instrument for assessing people’s level of dissatisfaction with their body weight while evaluating the perceptual component of body image.

Objective:

By knowing body mass index of female medical students, to find out their pattern of body image perception and any attempts done to change their weight.

Materials and Methods:

All the students residing in MBBS ladies hostel were included in this study and a questionnaire regarding body image perception, diet, physical activity and attempts to change weight was instituted. Their responses were collected, tabulated, analyzed and interpreted.

Results:

Among 147 study subjects, according to BMI, 25(17%) were undernourished while 111(75.5%) and 11(7.5%) were normally nourished and overweight respectively. 35(23.8%) of the subjects felt they were lean, 95(64.6%) felt they were normal and 17(11.6%) felt they were overweight. Regarding image satisfaction, 98(66.7%) of them were satisfied with their image and out of 49 who were not satisfied 30 (20.4 %) wanted to reduce weight. Skipping meals was practiced by 42 (28.6%) of subjects.

Conclusion:

About 75.5% of the study group were having normal BMI. Most of them perceived their image correctly regarding to their weight. Most of the underweight and all overweight females were not satisfied. Underweight females preferred to gain weight and overweight females preferred to lose weight.     

Sarcopenia,Obesity, Sarcopenic Obesity and Risk of Poor Nutritional Status in Polish Community-Dwelling Older People Aged 60 Years and Over

Poor nutritional status (PNS) is a modifiable factor determining abnormalities in body composition-sarcopenia, obesity, and sarcopenic obesity (SO). We aimed to assess the prevalence of these conditions and their association with PNS in 211 community-dwelling older adults. Sarcopenia was diagnosed based on the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People 2 (EWGSOP2) recommendations. Obesity was diagnosed with the Percent Body Fat (>42% in women and >30% in men). Subjects fulfilling the criteria for obesity and concomitantly with reduced lower and/or upper limbs muscle strength and muscle mass (ALM/BMI < 0.512 in women and <0.789 in men) were classified as SO phenotype. Participants without obesity and sarcopenia were categorized as ‘normal’ phenotype. Nutritional status was estimated with the Mini Nutritional Assessment, and a score of <24 indicated PNS. In total, 49.8% participants had abnormal body composition (60.7% men and 42.5% women; p = 0.001). Sarcopenia, obesity, and SO were diagnosed in 10%, 32.7%, and 7.1% of subjects. PNS was found in 31.3% of the study sample. Its prevalence differed between phenotypes: 81% in sarcopenia, 60% in SO, 14.5% in obesity, and 28.3% in the ‘normal’ phenotype group (p = 0.000). Based on the results, abnormal body composition is prevalent in elderly subjects. Sarcopenia and SO are often associated with PNS.