Nutrient intake in relation to central and overall obesity status among elderly people living in the Mediterranean islands: the MEDIS study.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the present work was to evaluate the relationship between energy-generating nutrients and the presence of central and overall obesity after correcting for socio-demographic, lifestyle and clinical characteristics, among healthy elders.


RESULTS
During 2005-2007, 553 elderly men and 637 elderly women (mean age 74±7years) from eight Mediterranean islands in Greece and Cyprus, were enrolled. The retrieved information included demographic, bio-clinical and dietary characteristics. MedDietScore assessed adherence to the Mediterranean dietary pattern. The prevalence of obesity was 27% in males and 39% in females (p<0.001), while 73% of males and 87% of females had central obesity. The prevalence of diabetes, hypercholesterolemia and hypertension was higher in the obese than in the non-obese participants (p<0.01). After adjusting for various confounders, a 1% increase in carbohydrate consumption was associated with a 12% (95% CI 0.78-0.99) lower likelihood of having central obesity, while a 1% increase in carbohydrate and protein consumption was associated with a 14% (95% CI 0.78-0.95) and 16% (95% CI 0.72-0.97) lower likelihood of being obese, respectively. Vegetable protein was found to be associated with a 15% (95% CI 0.77-0.93) lower likelihood of being obese while, only low glycemic index carbohydrates seem to be associated with a 6% (95% CI 0.90-0.98) lower likelihood of having central obesity.


CONCLUSIONS
The presented findings suggest that a diet high in carbohydrates and vegetable protein is associated with a lower likelihood of being obese and may help elderly people to preserve normal weight.
Department of Nutrition Science--Dietetics, Harokopio University, Athens, Greece.
S
S
Tyrovolas
T
T
Psaltopoulou
G
G
Pounis
N
N
Papairakleous
V
V
Bountziouka
A
A
Zeimbekis
E
E
Gotsis
M
M
Antonopoulou
G
G
Metallinos
E
E
Polychronopoulos
C
C
Lionis
D B
DB
Panagiotakos
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000150:complications; D004032:Diet; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates; D002149:Energy Intake; D005260:Female; D038321:Glycemic Index; D006115:Greece / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000150:complications; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008521:Mediterranean Islands / Q000453:epidemiology; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014674:Plant Proteins, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates; D014674:Plant Proteins, Dietary