Intensive Course in Biological Anthropology

Aim of the present study was to assess and compare the nutritional status and body composition variation among institutionalized and non-institutionalized senior citizens. Height, weight, skinfold thicknesses at five different body sites, waist circumference, hip circumference, heart rate and blood pressure were measured in 457 subjects ranging in age from 60-85 years. This includes 175 elderly from old age homes and 282 elderly living within the family set up. Body mass index, waist hip ratio and grand mean thickness were calculated statistically. Nutritional status was assessed using the WHO (1995) BMI guidelines. Significant differences were found for weight, heart rate, blood pressure, BMI and GMT between most of the age groups of institutionalized and non-institutionalized senior citizens. Indices of general adiposity are found to be significantly higher among non-institutionalized females as well as males than their institutionalized counterparts. The chronic energy deficiency (CED) and percentage of overweight/obesity were found to be relatively higher among noninstitutionalized senior citizens, both males and females as compared to institutionalized elderly. CED was found to be lower among females than their male counterparts and the percentage of overweight/obesity was found to be highest among females. The blood pressure showed positive and significant association with the GMT and BMI only.