Estado nutricional e dados antropométricos de idosos ativos

Abstract

The present study addresses the variation of body weight and nutritional status of the elderly individual, as well as the relationship between eating and regular physical exercise in maintaining health during the natural aging process. The objectives are to relate anthropometric data and nutritional status of adults and elderly people practicing different modalities of the AFRID - Physical and Recreational Activities for the Elderly, Federal University of Uberlândia. The sample consisted of 30 elderly people between the ages of 54 and 88 of both sexes, participants in various modalities of the AFRID program. To analyze the nutritional status of the elderly, the Nutritional Mini-Assessment (MAN) was applied. For anthropometric data, weight and height were collected and the IMC was subsequently calculated, based on the indexes of The Nutrition Screening Initiative (1994) for the elderly. Data analysis was performed using descriptive statistics. The data showed that 50% of the women and men surveyed were overweight; with regard to age, the elderly between 50 and 59 years old presented greater percentages of overweight, diverging from the group of 70 to 89 years old, who presented greater percentages of adequate weight. Regarding the quantity of modalities, the data showed that the majority of the elderly who participate in more than one modality present adequate weight. When analyzing the practice time, all groups presented similar percentages regarding overweight and adequate weight. Assessing nutritional status, 90% of the elderly are without risk of malnutrition. Although the sample was performed with active elderly, 50% of the women and men were overweight, evidencing even more the necessity of the continuous practice of physical exercises. The study showed that a greater variety of exercises seems to help in maintaining adequate IMC.