title: Prevalence of chronic energy deficiency in rural-dwelling older Indian adults during a period of severe drought.
abstract: The prevalence of chronic energy deficiency (CED = BMI < 18.5) among older adults (≥60 years) was assessed utilizing a large data set from a community-based cross-sectional study carried out in severely drought-affected rural areas of India. Anthropometric measurements (height, weight) were recorded for a total of 3,147 individuals, and a family diet survey (one day 24-hour recall) was carried out in 1,900 households (HHs) from 190 villages. As per the Body Mass Index (BMI), the prevalence of CED was 51.1% and 48.5% among older males and females, respectively. It was higher (p < 0.001) in the 70 years and older age group compared with those aged 60-69 years. In general, the prevalence of CED was higher (p < 0.001) for those belonging to the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes, for HHs of agricultural and non-agricultural labor, and for marginal or small farmers. The prevalence of CED was relatively lower (p > 0.05) among older adults during the drought period compared with the non-drought period. This could be attributed to intervention programs initiated by the government of India during the drought. These findings illustrate the value of intervention programs in drought-afflicted and drought-prone areas and underscore the importance of monitoring the nutritional status of older adults so that appropriate programs can be initiated as needed.
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Nutrition, Indian Council of Medical Research, Jamai-Osmania, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India. arlappan@yahoo.com
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Arlappa
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Venkaiah
authors.forename: K Mallikarjuna
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Rao
authors.forename: Ch Gal
authors.initials: ChG
authors.lastname: Reddy
authors.forename: S Sharad
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ravindranath
authors.forename: G N V
authors.initials: GN
authors.lastname: Brahmam
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Vijayaraghavan
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004034:Diet Surveys; D055864:Droughts; D002149:Energy Intake / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D044342:Malnutrition / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009752:Nutritional Status; D015995:Prevalence; D012424:Rural Population