Anthropometric and dietary evaluations in a sample of "healthy" Mexican older adults

The purpose of this study was to describe anthropometric, metabolic, and nutritional characteristics in healthy elderly adults in a primary health care setting. It was conducted through a cross-sectional study of 80 subjects 60 years of age and older. After confirming healthy status, clinical, biochemical, dietetic, and anthropometric evaluations were performed. The findings indicated 22% had anemia, 22% had impaired glucose tolerance, 46% had hypertriglyceridemia, and 51% had hypercholesterolemia. More than 50% had obesity, and almost 80% had a high risk waist circumference measure. Mean energy intake was normal; however, more than 50% of participants did not have adequate intakes of potassium, calcium, magnesium, zinc, folic acid, and vitamins B(12) and A. Inadequate food intakes were common. Specific examples are that 16% of the subjects ate no meat/egg, 31% ate no dairy products, 56% ate no legumes, 22% ate no fruits, and 41% ate no vegetables. Additionally, 31% consumed soft drinks. Therefore, we can conclude that elderly people otherwise considered as "healthy" nonetheless had a high proportion of obesity and cardiovascular risk factors. Inadequate dietary patterns were also observed and corresponded with poor micronutrient intake.     

Anthropometric measurements for Asian and Caucasian elderly

While differences in height and weight were observed, the results of this study indicate that there are similarities between Caucasian and Asian-American elderly in skin-fold measurements and prevalence of obesity. These results illustrate the value of skinfold thickness as a more accurate measure of adiposity than indexes on the basis of weight for given height. In addition, our results provide evidence for ethnic similarities in the distribution of subcutaneous fat and the prevalence of obesity in elderly Caucasians and Asian-Americans.     

Anthropometric measurements and survival in older Americans: Results from the third national health and nutrition examination survey

Objectives

The impact of adiposity on mortality in older adults remains controversial. Some reports suggest that measures of general adiposity such as body mass index (BMI) predict better survival. We assessed the relationship between measures of adiposity and mortality in older adults.

Design

Cross-sectional analysis of a population-based sample.

Setting

Non-institutionalized persons in the United States participating in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys III and its linked mortality dataset.

Participants

A subsample of 4,489 non-institutionalized survey participants aged >60 years with measures of body composition using bioimpedance. To account for possible residual confounding, smokers, subjects with heart failure, respiratory disease, kidney disease and cancer were excluded (n=2,920). Data from 1569 subjects were analysed.

Measurements

BMI, waist circumference (WC), waist-hip ratio (WHR), lean mass (LM) and % Body Fat (BF) were classified by tertiles (lowest=referent). Proportional-hazard models evaluated the association of anthropometric indices with overall and cardiovascular mortality.

Results

Mean age was 69.4years, and 265(16.9%) were >80 years. There were 717(47.6%) women and 792 deaths of which 284 [35.9%] were cardiovascular related. Elevated BMI was associated with reduced cardiovascular mortality (HR 0.53 [0.30–0.84]), and remained significant after adjusting for LM (HR 0.54 [0.31–0.93]). Elevated %BF was associated with reduced mortality from cardiovascular causes (HR 0.52 [0.29–0.91]). Low BMI was associated with higher risk of cardiovascular (HR 3.66 [1.25–10.69]) and overall death (HR 2.44 [1.22–4.90]).

Conclusion

Measures of adiposity in older participants are associated with lower mortality from cardiovascular causes that cannot be explained by major known confounders between obesity and mortality. Further studies need to elucidate a possible protective role and interplay between adiposity and skeletal muscle in older adults.     

Anthropometric measurements and body composition of selected national athletes

This study was conducted to determine the anthropometric measurements and body composition of selected national athletes. A total of 84 male athletes from 10 different types of sports and 24 female athletes from 5 types of sports were studied. The height and body weight of subjects were measured using the SEGA weighing balance with height attachment. Skinfold thickness measurements were taken using the Harpenden Calipers at 4 sites (biceps, triceps, subscapular and suprailiac). Percentage of body fat was calculated from the sum of 4 measurements of skinfold thickness. Based on body mass index (BMI), most of the male (68 subjects or 81%) and female (19 subjects or 79%) athletes were classified as normal. The percentage average body fat for both male and female athletes were 13.8 ± 4.5% and 24.7 ± 5.3%, respectively. The male and female athletes also had lower percentage of body fat when compared to non-athletes, however these athletes had slightly higher percentage of body fat when compared to those in selected countries.     

Anthropometric measurements of white and black southern adolescent girls

Anthropometric measurements of 691 white and 550 black 12-, 14-, and 16-year-old girls from three income groups, residing in the southern United States, were evaluated, Heights, weights, mid-upper arm circumferences, and arm muscle areas of 14-year-old girls were significantly higher than those of 12-year-old girls and significantly lower than those of girls 16 years of age; triceps skinfolds, arm fat areas, and body mass indexes of 12-year-olds were significantly lower than those of older subjects. Blacks had significantly higher weights, body mass indexes, and arm muscle areas than whites. Black 12-year-old girls were significantly taller than white 12-year-old girls but significantly shorter than older girls of either race; white 16-year-old girls were significantly taller than blacks of that age. Body mass indexes of black 12-year-olds and white 14-year-olds were significantly higher than those of white 12-year-olds, and significantly lower than those of black 14- and 16-year-olds. Medium-income blacks and whites of all income levels had lower (usually significantly) weights, body mass indexes, mid-upper arm circumferences, arm muscle areas, and arm fat areas than low- and high-income blacks did. Anthropometric values of white, but not of black, girls were generally similar to those reported in surveys of primarily white girls.     

Anthropometric measurements and dietary habits of schoolchildren in Qatar

INTRODUCTION: Very little is known about the anthropometric measurements and dietary habits of children in the Arabian Gulf in general, and in Qatar in particular. OBJECTIVES: To conduct anthropometrics measurements on schoolchildren in Qatar and to explore their dietary habits. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out, targeting 271 (124 male and 147 female) primary school students. RESULTS: Using the body mass index as the index of adiposity, 54.8% and 23.1% of Grade One male and female children were underweight, 3.2% and 8.8% were overweight, and 1.6% and 5.4% were obese, respectively. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner were eaten by 65%, 86%, and 87% on a daily basis. Anthropometric measurements differed significantly (P < 0.05) between genders and the other children of the National Center for Health Statistics population. CONCLUSION: schoolchildren in Qatar may be considered as having less overweight and obesity occurrence than most children in the Gulf.     

Anthropometric measurements and body silhouette of women: validity and perception

Objective To examine the validity of self-reported values for current anthropometric measurements and factors related to misreporting.

Design E3N, a prospective cohort study of cancer risk factors, conducted in France and part of the European Prospective Investigation on Cancer. E3N comprises 100,000 women, born between 1925 and 1950, followed with self-administered questionnaires sent every 18 to 24 months starting in 1990.

Subjects 152 women for the validation study of self-reported anthropometric measurements, and 91,815 women selected to evaluate factors affecting misreporting of body silhouette.

Statistical analysis Paired ttests, Pearson and Spearman correlations were applied to evaluate the validity of self-reported measures, and analysis of variance and logistic regression were used to assess the factors influencing misreporting of silhouette.

Results The correlation coefficients between self- and external measurements were high. All but sitting height (r=0.56) were more than 0.80, with weight and bust (nipples) measurement correlation coefficients attaining 0.94. The correlation between body mass index (BMI), measured by the technician and the self-reported silhouette, was 0.78. Small height was always associated with misclassification. Specific factors related to a more favorable perception of body silhouette were: being overweight, small height, younger age, and a lower level of education. These women were also more frequently unmarried, more physically active, and had a slender body shape during adolescence. Results denoting a less favorable perception of body shape were reversed.

Conclusion/Applications Self-reported measurements (made with or without help) are valid measures in epidemio-logical studies. Body silhouettes are simple and useful indicators of body mass index. However they should be interpreted with caution in certain instances, especially for overweight subjects. J Am Diet Assoc. 2002;102:1779-1784.     

Anthropometric measurements in the elderly: age and gender differences

In clinical practice and epidemiological surveys, anthropometric measurements represent an important component of nutritional assessment in the elderly. The anthropometric standards derived from adult populations may not be appropriate for the elderly because of body composition changes occurring during ageing. Specific anthropometric reference data for the elderly are necessary. In the present study we investigated anthropometric characteristics and their relationship to gender and age in a cross-sectional sample of 3,356 subjects, randomly selected from an elderly Italian population. In both sexes, weight and height significantly decreased with age while knee height did not. The BMI was significantly higher in women than in men (27.6 SD 5.7 v. 26.4 SD 3.7; P<0.001) and it was lower in the oldest than in the youngest subjects (P<0.05) of both genders. The 75th year of age was a turning point for BMI as for other anthropometric measurements. According to BMI values, the prevalence of malnutrition was lower than 5 % in both genders, whereas obesity was shown to have a higher prevalence in women than in men (28% v. 16%; P<0.001). Waist circumference and waist: hip ratio values were higher for the youngest men than for the oldest men (P<0.05), whereas in women the waist: hip ratio values were higher in the oldest women, suggesting that visceral redistribution in old age predominantly affects females. In conclusion, in the elderly the oldest subjects showed a thinner body frame than the youngest of both genders, and there was a more marked fat redistribution in women.     

Anthropometric measurements of infants and under five children in Riyadh City

The data presented in this paper are part of the ongoing pediatric nutrition surveillance in ten primary health centers from Riyadh City. A total of 21,507 infants and children under five were included. The mean birth weight was 3027 g, and 8.6% of the children had low birth weights. The measurements showed that there had been no obvious change in the weights and heights of children during the past 13 years. In our results the children classified as moderate and severely underweight were 4.5% and 0.8% respectively. The data showed the average growth of all infants, regardless of feeding pattern, was same or faster than the NCHS reference population, up to approximately six months of age after which their growth became slower than that of the NCHS standards. The prevalence of malnutrition in Saudi Arabia is moderately high, in spite of the high per capita income, and the fact that the government subsidizes locally produced and imported food items. The malnutrition among this age group may be attributed to reproductive or social behavior and genetic factors. The reduction of malnutrition in the last ten years could be largely due to the nutrition and health education programs. There is a need for more comprehensive nutritional health education among the local population.     

Frailty and diabetes among Mexican American older adults

Purpose

Progressive physical frailty in older adults is associated with increased risk of falls, disability, institutionalization, and mortality. Although associations between diabetes and frailty have been observed, the impact of diabetes on frailty in older Hispanics is largely unexplored. We examine the association of diabetes on the odds of frailty among older Mexican Americans.

Anthropometric and computerized tomographic measurements of lower extremity lean body mass

The loss of lean muscle mass is one of the hallmarks of protein-calorie malnutrition. Anthropometry is a standardized technique used to assess the response of muscle mass to nutrition therapy by quantifying the muscle and fat compartments. That technique does not accurately reflect actual limb composition, whereas computerized tomography does. Twenty lower extremities on randomly chosen men and women patients were evaluated by anthropometry and computerized tomography. Total area, muscle plus bone area, total volume, and muscle plus bone volume were correlated, using Heymsfield's equation and computerized tomography-generated areas. Anthropometrics overestimated total and muscle plus bone cross-sectional areas at almost every level. Anthropometry overestimated total area and total volume by 5% to 10% but overestimated muscle plus bone area and muscle plus bone volume by as much as 40%. Anthropometry, while easily performed and useful in large population groups for epidemiological studies, offers a poor assessment of lower extremity composition. On the other hand, computerized tomography is also easily performed and, while impractical for large population groups, does offer an accurate assessment of the lower extremity tissue compartments and is an instrument that might be used in research on lean muscle mass.     

Anthropometric and Lifestyle Associations of Bone Mass in Healthy Pre-Menopausal Mexican and Asian American Women

Few studies have established the lifestyle predictors of peak bone mineral density (BMD) in Mexican-American (MA) and Asian-American (AA) women. Pre-menopausal MA (n = 48) and AA (n = 58) women aged 30–45 years old were tested for BMD, body composition, aerobic fitness, and muscle function. Socio-demographic characteristics, health status, prevalence of osteoporosis risk factors, physical activity, and diet were determined via questionnaire. Pearson’s correlations and multiple linear regressions were used to test the associations between various osteoporosis risk factors and BMD. Body composition, anthropometric, and BMD differences were noted between groups. Hip, but not spine BMD, remained significantly higher for the MA compared to the AA group after adjustment for age, BMI, income, and physical activity index. Lean body mass was a significant predictor of hip BMD for both groups and this relationship was stronger for the AA group. Lean body mass may explain ethnic differences in BMD.     

Anthropometric measurements as indicators of nutritional status of the elderly

This review contains details on anthropometric measurements required for assessment of nutritional status in the elderly. These measurements provide indicators of fat tissue content or body composition and evaluate trends in nutritional status. Anthropometric measurements in the elderly are similar to these in other groups of population but they have to be adopted according to changes in constitution and posture of elderly and disabled people. The following measurements are presented: stature, weight, skinfold thickness and mid upper-arm, waist and hip circumferences. Derived measurements and indices of nutritional status are also discussed.     

Anthropometric measurements in the elderly population of Santiago, Chile

OBJECTIVE: There are few studies on anthropometry and nutritional status in large and representative samples of elderly populations in Chile and South America. We describe age and sex differences in weight, height, body mass index, knee height, waist circumference, midarm circumference, triceps skinfold thickness, arm muscle area, and calf circumference in Chilean elderly subjects. METHODS: This was a population-based, cross-sectional study. A total of 1220 elderly persons (819 women and 411 men; age range, 60-99 y) were recruited in the city of Santiago (Chile) through a probabilistic sampling procedure carried out from October to December 1999. RESULTS: Men were significantly heavier and taller than women in all age groups, whereas body mass index values were significantly higher in women than in men. All anthropometric variables showed a decrease in average values with aging in men and women. The apparent negative slopes for the decline in average values of body weight with aging was of greater magnitude in women than in men (-0.42 kg/y and -0.54 kg/y in male and female subjects, respectively). However, significant age x sex interaction was detected only for triceps skinfold thickness. In women, quadratic terms for age provided a significantly better fit than did the simple linear model for the association between age and weight, body mass index, waist circumference, triceps skinfold thickness, calf circumference, or midarm circumference. CONCLUSION: These observations indicated that body weight changes associated with aging might be more severe in Chilean women than in men, probably determining a differential pattern of lean and fat mass loss.     

Anthropometric measurements,deficiency signs and their relationship under drought conditions

In October-November 1987 in India, the Desert Medicine Research Centre in Jodhpur conducted a rapid anthropometric survey of 555 preschool children in 4 districts of Rajasthan which had been severely affected by drought (Jodhpur, Jalore, Nagpur, and Barmer districts) to determine the association between anthropometric measurements and various nutritional deficiency signs and infections. Based on weight for age, 82.3% of the children were undernourished. 13.3% of all children were severely malnourished (grade III undernutrition). Anemia, protein energy malnutrition (PEM), and upper respiratory infections occurred significantly more often as one digressed from the normal nutrition grade. These 3 conditions were also closely linked to weight status. Based on height for age, 62.4% of the children were chronically undernourished. 11.9% of all children were severely so. PEM was the only deficiency sign or infection associated with height status (6.2% of children with normal nutrition had PEM vs. 15.% for grade I undernutrition and 34.8% for grade II undernutrition; p .001). Vitamin A deficiency, anemia, and PEM occurred more frequently as one went from normal nutrition to grade II undernutrition based on fat fold at triceps (FFT) measurements. PEM and upper respiratory infections were significantly associated with weight for height status. Weight correctly identified 84% of all nutritional deficiency signs and infections. The corresponding figures for height, FFT, and weight for height were 64.2%, 75.4%, and 31%. Thus, weight was the most sensitive screening measurement in identifying nutritional deficiency signs and infections. Based on weight alone, the odds ratio of undernourished children developing Vitamin b-complex deficiency, PEM, and upper respiratory infections was 1.58, 3.25, and 1.77, respectively. Weight for height was the most specific screening measurement (88.2% vs. 44.7% for height, 29.3% for FFT, and 26.1% for weight).     

Anthropometric measurements and dietary intakes of Cherokee Indian teenagers in North Carolina

Anthropometric measurements, rates of obesity, and food intake practices were investigated among 277 Cherokee Indian youths in North Carolina. Differences in food intake practices between lean and fat individuals were also assessed. Height, weight, and triceps skinfold measurements were taken, along with three dietary recalls. When Cherokee height data were compared with national survey data, no significant differences were found. In contrast, mean body weights and triceps skinfolds of Cherokees were significantly higher than national reference data. Obesity rates were found to be high; almost one-half of the Cherokee boys and one-third of the girls had skinfold thicknesses above the 85th percentile for Ten-State Nutrition Survey reference data. The effects of degree of Cherokee blood on height, weight, and triceps skinfolds were also analyzed. No significant differences existed for triceps skinfolds or weight and degree of Indian blood. However, there was a significant relationship (p less than .001) between height and degree of Indian blood, with a decrease in height with an increase in Indian blood. Mean energy intakes were not significantly different between the lean and fat individuals. Similarly, no differences were found in meal or snacking patterns. It does not appear that the obesity is caused by overeating. The high incidence of obesity among the youth and the prevalence of maturity-onset diabetes in the adult Cherokee population speaks to the need for management of obesity.     

Neighbourhood composition and depressive symptoms among older Mexican Americans

STUDY OBJECTIVE: Research suggests that economically disadvantaged neighbourhoods confer an increased risk of depression to their residents. Little research has been reported about the association between ethnic group concentration and depression. This study investigated the association between neighbourhood poverty and neighbourhood percentage Mexican American and depressive symptoms for older Mexican Americans in the south western United States. DESIGN: A population based study of older non-institutionalised Mexican Americans from the baseline assessment (1993/94) of the Hispanic established population for the epidemiologic study of the elderly (H-EPESE) merged with 1990 census data. SETTING: Five south western states in the United States. PARTICIPANTS: 3050 Mexican Americans aged 65 years or older. MAIN RESULTS: There was a strong correlation between the percentage of neighbourhood residents living in poverty and the percentage who were Mexican American (r = 0.62; p<0.001). Percentage neighbourhood poverty and percentage Mexican American had significant and opposite effects on level of depressive symptoms among older Mexican Americans. After adjusting for demographic and other individual level factors, each 10% increase in neighbourhood population in poverty was associated with a 0.763 (95% CI 0.06 to 1.47) increase in CES-D score, while each 10% increase in Mexican American neighbourhood population was associated with a -0.548 (95% CI -0.96 to -0.13) unit decrease in CES-D score among older Mexican Americans residing in their neighbourhoods. CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest a sociocultural advantage conferred by high density Mexican American neighbourhoods, and suggest the need to include community level factors along with individual level factors in community based epidemiological health studies.     

Neighborhood context and self-rated health in older Mexican Americans

PURPOSE: To determine whether neighborhood characteristics are associated with self-rated health in older Mexican Americans. METHODS: Epidemiologic data on 3050 older Mexican Americans residing in the southwestern United States during 1993 and 1994 were merged with 1990 US Census data. All subjects were matched to one of 210 census tracts (neighborhoods). Multilevel ordinal logit models were used to examine relationships between self-rated health and individual- and neighborhood-level variables. RESULTS: After adjusting for individual characteristics, older Mexican Americans were more likely to rate their health poorer if they lived in neighborhoods that were economically disadvantaged, less populated by other Hispanics, or located within 50 miles of the US-Mexico border. In addition, residence in a border community moderated the relationship between self-rated health and neighborhood economic disadvantage. The effect of neighborhood economic disadvantage on poorer self-rated health was two to three times stronger for subjects living near the border region than subjects living further away from the border. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates the importance of considering several dimensions of neighborhood context, especially for Mexican Americans. Residence in a border community and neighborhood economic disadvantage were important predictors of poorer self-rated health status. In addition, older Mexican Americans experience a health benefit from living in neighborhoods populated with other Hispanics.