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BMI, life-style and psychological conditions in a sample of elderly italian men and women

  • JNHA: Nutrition
  • Published:
The journal of nutrition, health & aging

Abstract

Objectives

To identify the relationship among cognitive status, psychological conditions, anthropometric measurements and life-style in a sample of elderly Italian men and women.

Methods

Three hundred and six volunteers for ZINCAGE Project recruited. The sample was made up of healthy older adults living in the Marche Region aged 65 and over. All elderly were given a complete medical, anthropometric assessment, and psycho-social evaluation.

Results

Overall, the participants perceived themselves to be in very good or good (22%) or fair (69%) health; only 9% reported a poor health status. The 46% of the sample fell within the normal body mass index (BMI) range, though 38% were overweight, 12% were obese, and only 4% were underweight. In both sexes, BMI significantly decreased with age (p<0.001). BMI was positively associated with performing sedentary activities (r = 0.188; p < 0.001). Levels of both sedentary (r = 0.221; p < 0.001) and non-sedentary (r = 0.258; p < 0.001) leisure activities were positively associated with education level (p<0.05). It was found that lower scores of physical activity were associated to higher scores of Geriatric Depression Scale (r=−0.425; p<0.01), lower scores of Mini Mental State Examination (r=0.266; p<0.001) and higher score of Perceived Stress Scale (r=−0.131; p<0.05).

Conclusion

Men and women lead different lifestyles and have a different psychological status, with advancing age consequently stressing the need for healthy lifestyle programmes particularly in the case of overweight and obese elderly people.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center of psycho-social aspects of aging, Scientific-Technological Area, INRCA (Italian National Institute on Aging), Ancona, Italy

    Fiorella Marcellini, R. Papa & C. Gagliardi

  2. Unit of Geriatrics, INRCA (Italian National Institute on Aging), Fermo, Italy

    C. Giuli

  3. Laboratory of Nutrigenomic and Immunosenescence, Scientific-Technological Area, INRCA (Italian National Institute on Aging), Ancona, Italy

    M. Malavolta & E. Mocchegiani

  4. Scientific-Technological Area, Center of psycho-social aspects of aging, INRCA (Italian National Institute on Aging), Via S. Margherita 5, 60124, Ancona, Italy

    Fiorella Marcellini

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  1. Fiorella Marcellini
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  2. C. Giuli
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  3. R. Papa
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  4. C. Gagliardi
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  5. M. Malavolta
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  6. E. Mocchegiani
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Correspondence to Fiorella Marcellini.

Additional information

M.F. and G.C. contributed equally and are both to be considered as first authors

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Marcellini, F., Giuli, C., Papa, R. et al. BMI, life-style and psychological conditions in a sample of elderly italian men and women. J Nutr Health Aging 14, 515–522 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12603-010-0098-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12603-010-0098-6

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