Nutritional status and functional ability of the elderly aged 60 to 90 years in the Mpigi district of central Uganda

Objectives This study assessed thenutritional status of the elderly and their functional ability becausepoor nutritional status in the elderly is associated with poorfunctionalability. Methods Anthropometricmeasurements, demographic and socioeconomic data, dietary assessment bya food frequency list, and activities of daily life data were collectedcross sectionally in 2002. Participants (n= 100) were randomly selected and the response rate was95.2%. Results Theoverall prevalences of undernutrition were 33.3% based on bodymass index (<18.5 kg/m2) and 52% based onmid-upper arm circumference (<24 cm). There was a large, significantdifference between prevalences of malnutrition by sex: 68% ofwomen were undernourished (body mass index < 18.5kg/m2) compared with 32.4% of men. Dietaryassessment showed that intake of fish, cereals, vegetables, tubers, andlegumes was moderate (three to six times/wk). Evaluation of the abilityof elderly people to perform basic activities of daily living showedthat 33% of subjects were independent in all activities of dailyliving, except for mobility and feeding. The relation between body massindex and variables associated with functional ability were significantwith regard to mobility, continence, and feeding(P <0.05). Conclusion This study found that alarge percentage of older men and women are malnourished. Thisinfluenced their daily activities, especially mobility and feeding. Theelderly need to be incorporated into health programs andpolicy.