Hacettepe Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Halk Sağlığı AD ANKARA

Aim: In this study, it was aimed to assess anthropometric measures of 65 years of age and older people living in an urban district of Ankara province, Turkey. Patients and Methods: The total number of 65 years of age and older people was 913 and in this cross-sectional study. We had a sample of 350 older people. Data collection was conducted by five of the researches in two weeks and each individual was visited in her/his own setting. Body Mass Index (BMI) values were calculated according to the body weight/height measurements. NCHS-BMI percentile standards developed by World Health Organization (WHO) were used to determine "obesity/undernutrition". Results: The mean age of men was 71.8±4.9, and mean age of women was 71.2±5.82. Mean BMI value for men was 25.4±2.9, whereas mean for women was 26.9±3.9'dir (t test p value=0.000). According to the logistic regression analysis, the possibility of NCHS-BMI percentile be "<5 or > 95" among the individuals who stated a chronic disease was higher compared to the ones who did not state a chronic disease [OR (CI)= 4.768 (1.247-18.224); p=0.022]. Conclusions: BMI values of the elderly participants in this cross-sectionally designed study seemed to be influenced by some independent variables. However, in terms of determining "causality", follow up studies are recommended to be conducted in the study population.