Functional Ability and Nutritional Status of Indian Elderly

The present study was conducted among the adult urban females. A total sample of 289 females including young adult females aged 20-25 years and older females aged 55-80 years was studied. Four anthropometric and five physiological variables were measured for all the subjects. Body mass index (BMI) and Waist hip ratio (WHR) were computed. Stature, grip strength, Forced Vital Capacity (FVC), and Peak Expiratory Flow Rate (PEFR) showed a decline with advancing age. However, weight, waist circumference, hip circumference, body mass index and waist hip ratio showed an increase with age. A decline in muscular strength, lung functions with a corresponding increase in fat mass and blood pressure was reported. More than 50 percent of the elderly females were found to be overweight/obese. More than 60 percent of the females were found to belong to pre-hypertensive/hypertensive category. Significant associations were found between the indices of adiposity, lung functions, muscular strength and blood pressure among the elderly (p<0.01).