The Body Mass Index and Related Factors of Aged Living in a District of Istanbul, Turkey

Background: To determine the nutritional status of elderly by body mass index (BMI) and to investigate associated factors. Methods: This is a cross-sectional, descriptive and analytic study done among 309 elderly, in the Besiktas district of Istanbul from January to December 2008. The interviews were performed face-to-face. Anthropometric measurements (height, weight) were taken and BMI was calculated and classified according to World Health Organization standards. Results: According to BMI classification, 1.6% were underweight, 15.2% were normal, 32.4% were overweight, 46.3% were obese and 4.5% were morbidly obese. A gradually lower BMI was observed with the progression of age. According to the study, obesity rates tended to be higher in those with inferior educational background. The study also revealed that diabetes mellitus is more prevalent in those that are overweight, obese and morbidly obese than those that are underweight and normal. In addition, hypertension is a more common ailment along obese and morbidly obese elders. On the contrary, osteoporosis is more prevalent among underweight and normal elders than those that are classified as obese and morbidly obese. Conclusion: BMI provides valuable insight in lieu of nutritional status and health state of the elderly in the primary health care unit