Nutritional Status of Non-Institutionalized Adults Aged over 65. Study of Weight and Health in Older Adults (PYSMA)

Abstract

Background. A significant increase in the prevalence of malnourishment, obesity, and sarcopenic obesity has been observed in developed countries over the last few decades. In Spain, this especially happens in populations over 65 who are not institutionalized. Differences in lifestyle, medication, and economic capacity partially explain this increase. Objective. To study the nutritional status of a population of 65 year-olds and subjects who are not institutionalized, in the Cadiz region (Spain). Methods. Observational, transversal study carried out on 2621 subjects who are 65 years old and over, with a direct weight and height measurement, in 150 pharmacy offices from 44 locations. A mobile application was designed for homogeneous data collection in all the pharmacy offices. The data required from all subjects was gender, age, postal code, social security contribution regime, if the patient lives alone, type of food consumed as the main meals, level of physical activity, polypharmacy, weight, and height. Results. The prevalence of overweight and obesity amounts to 82.2% of the population (43.2% overweight and 39% obese). We found an inverse relationship between the prevalence of overweight and obesity with carrying out physical activity and having full dinners. Conclusion. We identify the need to reinforce the messages to the elderly aimed at maintaining adequate physical activity and assessing the quality and quantity of dinners, as well as reducing, as much as possible, the treatments that may lead to weight gain.