FREITAS, M. B.; http://lattes.cnpq.br/4147732252517682; FREITAS, Mikaellen Barbosa de.
Résumé:
In developing countries like Brazil, the age for an individual to be considered elderly is 60
years, and an adequate nutritional status for these people is extremely important for quality
health, without risk of disease. The present study aims to evaluate the nutritional status of
elderly people who participate in the “Grupo Alegria de Viver”, in the interior of Paraíba. It is
a cross-sectional survey, whose target audience is the elderly in the joy of living group. Data
were collected from 29 elderly people, 27 female and 2 male, from January to February 2023.
The results obtained in relation to the Muscle Mass Index, the elderly were underweight
(10.3%), eutrophic (48.3%), overweight (24.1%) and obesity (17.3%). In the classification of
waist circumference in females, it was analyzed that there was high laughter (14.8%), very high
risk (66.7%) and no risk for metabolic complications associated with obesity, in males there
was no individual evaluated with that risk. The waist-to-hip ratio classification for females
resulted in 85% of the elderly women being at risk for developing metabolic diseases and for
males, none of the evaluated subjects contacted this risk. The calf circumference assessment
resulted in 90% of the elderly of both sexes not being at risk of malnutrition. Regarding the
classification of body fat percentage, both genders had a 100% risk for diseases and disorders
associated with obesity. At the conclusion of the study, it was possible to observe that a
significant number of elderly people have their nutritional status at risk for metabolic diseases
that are associated with excess weight. But taking into account that anthropometric parameters
should not be used in isolation for diagnostic purposes, it is necessary to associate them with
other indicators for a more reliable result.