Rs. Hurley et al., COMPARATIVE-EVALUATION OF BODY-COMPOSITION IN MEDICALLY STABLE ELDERLY, Journal of the American Dietetic Association, 97(10), 1997, pp. 1105-1109
Objective Accurate assessment is needed to identify the nutritional st
atus of elderly persons. Anthropometric data were collected to describ
e body composition of the sample, including blacks and whites aged 55
to 89 years, and to explore the usefulness of several methods of body
composition measurement. Design Baseline measurements were made as par
t of a longitudinal study. Body composition variables, particularly le
an and lean-to-height measures, were used. Subjects/setting One hundre
d twenty-nine free-living medically stable elderly at senior community
centers were self-selected into the study. Statistical analysis Descr
iptive statistics were generated for all variable by gender, race, and
age (<65, 65 to 74, and greater than or equal to 75 years). Actual he
ight was correlated with estimated height using published equations. A
nalysis of variance revealed the effect of gender, race, or age on out
come variables. Results White women, black women, and white men made u
p 54%, 23%, and 23% of the sample, respectively. Most gender differenc
es were expected. Black women had greater weight, body mass index, arm
muscle circumference, and ratio of lean to height but lower percent l
ean body mass than white women. Subjects over 75 years old were shorte
r, lighter, and had lower ratio of lean to height. Gender and age had
the greatest effect on ratio of lean to height. Conclusions/applicatio
ns A lean-to-height index appears to be a useful tool for tracking the
status of lean mass in the elderly. Knee height may be especially use
ful because it, unlike stature, does not decrease with age. Furthermor
e, some published equations for estimating stature from knee height ne
ed adjustment, specifically for elderly black women.