Dietary patterns identification and its relation with the nutritional status and central obesity in older people

Abstract

Population aging is now reality in the world, as a consequence of demographic transition. Several epidemiological studies on nutritional status in elderly show associations between nutritional deficiencies and morbidity and mortality, which established that being overweight is one of the major risk factor for chronic non-communicable diseases. One way to determine the nutritional status of aged is through the use of anthropometry, that allows the identification of groups who need nutritional intervention, the evaluation of results of a nutritional intervention and investigation of the determinants of low-weight and overweight. Many studies also investigate the feeding behavior as a risk factor for overweight and obesity and one way to assess the effect of diet on health outcomes is through the dietary patterns utilization. This model enables identification of the synergistic action of nutrients and foods in the risk of many chronic diseases and may help capture some of the complexity of the diet, which is often lost in individual evaluations of nutrients. In epidemiological studies, that focus on the population study, the choice for analysis of dietary patterns can provide better benefits in proposing effective measures to promote health through diet. Thus, given the necessity to identify dietary patterns and possible influences of these food choices in nutritional status and central obesity in the elderly of Botucatu-SP, it is proposed to evaluate these factors and the relationship between them, considering them as determinants of risk for cardiovascular diseases. (AU)