The interaction of physical, psychological, socioeconomic and sociodemographic variables on the Body Mass Index (MINDEX) of the community-dwelling elderly.
Two cohorts of older people 65-74, and 75 or more years of age living at home in Nottingham or in a nearby rural area in the UK were interviewed and anthropometric measurements were taken (n=1037). Bivariate analyses showed significant relationships between mindex and variables previously associated with food choice. Those with a mindex above the 95th percentile were more likely to live in a rural area, and were less likely to smoke than those between the 5th and 95th percentiles. Those with a low mindex, below the 5th percentile, were more likely to smoke than those between the 5th and 95th percentiles (45% compared to 17%), and were also more likely to live in an urban area, to have difficulty carrying shopping bags, not to use a car for shopping, to have a poorer appetite, and to live alone. Those overweight and underweight had lower levels of social engagement and were more likely to be of a lower social class. In multivariate analysis, socioeconomic variables and psychosocial variables were not significantly associated with mindex, when controlling for physical and sociodemographic variables. Advancing age, female gender, smoking and decreased appetite were significantly associated with decreased mindex (Adjusted R2 = .168).
Donkin
A J
AJ
Ageing & Disability Research Unit, University of Nottingham, UK. a.donkin@lshtm.ac.uk
Johnson
A E
AE
Morgan
K
K
Neale
R J
RJ
Lilley
J M
JM
D000368:Aged / Q000502:physiology* / Q000523:psychology; D000369:Aged, 80 and over / Q000502:physiology* / Q000523:psychology; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000886:Anthropometry; D001066:Appetite; D015992:Body Mass Index; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003710:Demography; D004739:England; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012423:Rural Health; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014504:Urban Health