ANTHROPOMETRIC DIFFERENCES RELATED TO GENDERS AND AGE IN THE ELDERLY.
BACKGROUND
anthropometry facilitates the evaluation of the risks associated with reduced lean body mass, as well as of excess adiposity. However, very little is known regarding the anthropometric standards among the elderly and the differences observed between the genders and among the various age groups Objective: to compare indicators and indices anthropometrics of the elderly by gender and age group.


METHODS
a cross-sectional study was undertaken using a representative probability sample, involving 621 elderly. We evaluated the weight, height, circumferences (waist, hip, calf and arm); body mass index, body adiposity index, waist-hip ratio and waist-stature ratio.


RESULTS
women were found to have a higher mean body mass index, waist-stature ratio, body adiposity index and arm circumference (p < 0.001), whereas men had higher values for weight, height and waist-hip ratio (p < 0.001). The average arm and calf circumference, however, did not differ between the genders (p > 0.05). Weight, and calf and arm circumferences were observed to be lower in the older age groups (p < 0.001) and the same was true for the body mass index and height only in men (p < 0.05). The waist circumference, waist-hip ratio, body adiposity index and waist-stature ratio did not differ among the age groups (p > 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
the total and peripheral body mass, for the men, in particular, was lower among the older subjects. Central adiposity did not differ among the age groups in both the genders.
Universidade Federal do Tocantins. Câmpus de Palmas. Curso de Nutrição.. facrezende@gmail.com.
Fabiane Aparecida
FA
Canaan Rezende
Universidade Federal de Viçosa. Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde. Departamento de Nutrição e Saúde, Brazil.. andreiaribeiro@hotmail.com.
Andréia
A
Queiroz Ribeiro
Universidade Federal de Viçosa. Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde. Departamento de Nutrição e Saúde, Brazil.. sepriore@ufv.br.
Sílvia Eloiza
SE
Priore
Universidade Federal de Viçosa. Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde. Departamento de Nutrição e Saúde, Brazil.. sylvia@ufv.br.
Sylvia do Carmo
Sdo C
Castro Franceschini
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000886:Anthropometry; D001837:Body Weights and Measures; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology; D011159:Population Surveillance; D012737:Sex Factors