Utilizing the Health Belief Model to predicting female middle school students' behavioral intention of weight reduction by weight status

Weight reduction behavior is common among adolescent girls. The present study examined the status of weight reduction behavior and factors affecting the behavioral intention of weight reduction using the Health Belief Model (HBM) for female middle school students by weight category. Survey data was collected from three girl's middle schools in Gyeongju, Korea. A total of 299 female middle school students participated in this study. The questionnaire had questions about general characteristics, weight reduction behavior, and variables of HBM (perceived threat, perceived benefits, perceived barriers, cues to action, self-efficacy in dietary life and exercise, and behavioral intention of weight reduction). Descriptive statistics, Chi-square tests, ANOVA, and multiple regression analysis were applied to analyze the variables. A higher percentage of students in the overweight group attempted weight reduction than those in the underweight and the normal weight groups (P < 0.001). Among students who had attempted weight reduction, 73% tried diet therapy, while 78% tried exercise. Students in the normal and overweight groups showed significantly higher threat (P < 0.01) and cues to action (P < 0.001) than those in the underweight group. As for perceived benefits, barriers, and self-efficacy in dietary life and exercise, there were no significant differences among weight groups. Students in the overweight group showed the strongest intention of weight reduction and there were significant differences among the three weight groups (P < 0.001). Perceive threat (P < 0.01), cues to action (P < 0.001), and perceived self-efficacy (P < 0.01) were significantly associated to behavioral intention of weight reduction for all respondents. For the underweight group, perceived threat (P < 0.05) and perceived self-efficacy (P < 0.01) were the significant variables. For the overweight group, cue to action was the significant variable (P < 0.05).

Nutrient Intakes Differences of the People Living Near the Nuclear Plant by the Household Income Level / 대한지역사회영양학회지

This study was conducted to measure and evaluate the food and nutrient intakes of the people living near the nuclear plant and to investigate the relationship between the household income level and the food and nutrient intake patterns. A total of 552 cases (263 males and 289 females) were surveyed during the period from April 1 to December 21 of 2005. Dietary intake was measured by means of the 24-hour recall method. The data were analyzed using SPSS Windows (ver. 14.0). The household income level of the subjects was classified into two groups : Low income group (LIG; 2,000,000). The subjects at large had less energy and nutrient intakes than did the population in town and village who participated in the 2005 National Health and Nutrition Survey. The intake of calcium, zinc, vitamin A, riboflavin, vitamin B6, vitamin C, and folic acid was less than the Estimated Average Requirement in case of 50~95% of the subjects. The LIG consumed less beans, vegetables, fruits, meats, and beverages than did the HIG in male, while the LIG consumed less eggs and beverages than did the HIG in female. The LIG consumed less nutrients than did the HIG in male, except for carbohydrate, while the LIG consumed less nutrients including zinc, vitamin A, riboflavin, vitamin B6, vitamin C, folic acid than did the HIG in female. In addition, the LIG had higher percentage energy consumption from carbohydrate. These results suggest that higher food and nutrient intake is associated with higher income.

Mothers' Perceptions on Preschool Children's Food Preference, Efforts in Improving Food Intake and Their Beliefs in Food Selection / 대한지역사회영양학회지

In an attempt to investigate mothers' perceptions of factors affecting preschool children's food preferences, their policy improving food intake and belief in food selection, in-depth interviews with 30 mothers who had preschool children were conducted in Daegu and Busan. The interviews were tape-recorded and the contents of interviews were analysed by researchers. Most mothers and children liked meats. It was found that children usually disliked vegetables such as onions, carrots, and green onions. Mothers perceived that many factors affected their children's food preferences: mothers' and fathers' food preferences, food offering at meals, mothers' food intake during pregnancy, children's food intake during weaning period, heredity, peer pressure, and advertisements on television. Mothers made efforts to improve childrens food intakes in many ways: change of cooking method, emphasizing function of nutrients and food for health, conciliation and enforcement, and comparison to other children. The most affecting belief for mothers in food selection was family members' food preference. Health, balance in nutrient intake, degree of food processes, food additives, chemicals, convenience, diversity, and economy were also important beliefs to select food. Convenience was especially the primary belief in choosing and preparing children's snacks. Mothers offered frozen dumplings and meat, instant noodles, tuna, and ham for snacks for convenience. These results showed that mothers understood many aspects affecting children's food preference, tried to improve children's food intakes, and had several beliefs in food selection. We concluded that it is necessary to give information for mothers to make healthy snacks in a short time and chance to learn cooking skills.

A Study of the Frequency of Food Purchase for Snacking and Its Related Ecological Factors on Elementary School Children / 대한지역사회영양학회지

In order to investigate food purchase frequency of elementary school children and its related ecological factors, 4314th, 5th and 6th grade elementary school children and their mothers, living in Seoul and Daejon, small city and rural area of Chungnam Province, were participated in this study. The subjects and their parents were surveyed by a selfrecording questionnaire about food purchase frequency and some ecological factors. Average height and weight of the subjects by gender and grade were similar to or a little bit more than the 1998 Korean Growth Standard. According to relative body weight, 30.6% and 10.8% of the subjects belonged to under-weight and obesity categories, respectively. Of the subjects, 46.9% used PC telecommunication or internet, 53.8% of them used it for less than an hour per day, and 46.4% watched TV for 2 to 4 hours a day. About 42% of the subjects spent 500 Won or less daily to buy snacks. A half of the subjects took snacks once a day because of hunger. Mothers' nutrition knowledge score was averagely 8.16 out of 13 full score and the average attitude score was 43.22 out of 50 full score. Foods purchased more than once a week were milk and yoghurt, cookies, ice-cream, ramyun, and gum in order. Family income, parents' education level, mothers' nutrition knowledge and food attitude score, students' snacking frequency and TV watching time showed significant correlations with purchase frequencies of some individual food items. In conclusion, the elementary school children considered taste most important rather than nutrition in buying snacks and most frequently bought carbohydrate foods and concentrated sugars except milk. Ecological factors such as mothers' nutritional knowledge and food attitude, TV watching time and snacking frequency had influenced the children's food purchase frequency. Accordingly, it is necessary to educate both children and their mothers about good food purchase and the importance of snacking.

Rice Preference Differences in Subjects Taking Breakfast Regularly and Skipping Breakfast in Kyeonggi-do Residence / 대한지역사회영양학회지

Carbohydrate intake is decreasing along with the reduction of rice consumption among the Korean population. There is an increasing trend of diet-related degenerative diseases with the increased consumption of animal food, and therefore, the increase of animal food intake can be considered as one of causes of the diet-related disease. The objective of this study is to investigate the differences in rice preference and breakfast patterns between the subjects have breakfast regularly and those skipping it. One thousand participants were selected by the stratified sample method from the primary, middle, high school and college, and company workers from 24 cities of Kyeonggi-do. The interviewing procedure was carried by regional home extension workers. Approximately half participants (49.9%) were under the age of 20. Although 86% of the subjects considered eating breakfast good for health. only 46.4% of the subjects had breakfast regularly (HB). The rest of them skipped breakfast (SB) more than twice a week. The proportion of subjects hiving no breakfast were 9.3% of male and 12.2% of female subjects. The main reason for not having breakfast was due to the limited time. For their breakfast 85% of the HB ate boiled rice with the side dishes. More subjects in SB (27.8%) preferred the boiled rice with various grains for breakfast than those of HB (21.8%). The subjects in HB (65.5%) preferred boiled plein rice more than those of SB (56.9%). In cases they must have breakfast, 47.7% of the subjects wanted rice with the side dishes, 24.2% preferred rice ball or rice roll with laver, 10.5% preferred a rice beverage. More subjects in HB (59.8%) wanted rice with side dishes than those in SB (36.9%). It was found out that selecting rice at the breakfast is still the main choice. Diverse ready-to-eat rice menus have to be developed to increase the rice consumption, specially to increase breakfast eating frequencies of SB through saving time and effort.

Korean Families' Eating-out Behavior in Relation to Family Life Cycle / 대한지역사회영양학회지

This study was conducted to compare families eating-out behavior in relation to family life cycle in order to provide basic information on nutritional education about eating-out. The data were collected by the survey method from 440 families who lived in apartment complexes in Kyong-ju and Seoul. The structured questionnaire included items about the frequency of eating out, the choice of eating-out menus, the decision maker of the eating-out process, the attitudes toward eating out and the general characteristics of the families. The major results are as follow: 1) In the cafe of telephone delivery service, and eat-in restaurants, the subjects showed statistical significance (p<0.01). With respect to telephone delivery service, families in Step II used it most frequently, but families in Step I rarely used it. With respect to eat-in restaurants, families in Step II used them most frequently but families in Step IV rarely used them. 2) In all the family life cycle steps, the most favorable menu was fried chicken for take-out type, Chajang noodles, fried chicken and pizza fur telephone delivery, pizza for internet delivery, raw fish and beef for eat-in restaurant, Docbokki, laver rolled rice and ramyun for convenience flood stores. 3) The wife was most influential in making decisions about the take-out type (p<0.001). In the case of telephone deliveries (p<0.001), the wife was the most influential in the families of Steps I and II, but the children were the most influential in the families of Steps III and IV. In the case of eat-in restaurants (p<0.001), the husband had the most effect on the decision-making process. In the case of convenience flood stores (p<0.001), the children were the most influential in the families in Steps III and IV. In most family life cycle steps, each of them chose their own meal. 4) from a factor analysis perspective, attitudes toward eating out have been grouped according to two factors, namely 'Advantage' and 'Nutrition'. No factor showed a significant difference among the family life cycle steps.

Korean Family's Perception of the Importance of the Quality of Restaurants according to Family Life Cycle / 대한지역사회영양학회지

The purpose of this study was to examine the customer's perception of the importance of restaurant quality by using a developed SERVQUAL model. In particular, it was intended to provide the basic information for nutrition education for family's eating out. the data were collected through the survey over 440 families who have lived around the apartments in Kyongju and Seoul. The structure questionnaire included 35 items evaluating the quality of restaurants, adapting SERVQUAL model and adding other factors related to restaurant and the general characteristics of the families. The data were analyzed using SPSS 10.0 WIN program for descriptive analysis, a chi-square test and Pearson's correlation test. The major results were as follows: From the factor analysis, the 35 items related to the quality of restaurant have been categorized into 10 factors, ie., 'Health', 'Reliability', 'Employee', 'Food', 'Facilities', 'Product', 'Empathy', 'Access', 'Comfort', and 'Safety'. From the analysis of the correlation between family life cycle of four steps and 10 factors, four factors such as 'Health', 'Facilities' (p<0.001), 'Comfort' (p<0.01) and 'Product' (p<0.05) showed statistical significance. 'Health' and 'Product' factors marked the highest score in the family with senior couple live without children or single, but the lowest score in the family with young couple without children or single. 'Facilities' and 'Comfort' factors showed the highest scores in the family with under elementary school children, and the lowest scores in the family with over elementary school children.

A Study on Predicting Behavioral Intention of Breastfeeding among Primigravida / 대한지역사회영양학회지

This study was conducted to examine the predicting factors for the intention of breastfeeding with The Theory of Planned Behavior. The questionnaires were distributed to 131 primigravidas who were in their third trimester of pregnancy in Seoul, Kyonggido, Kyongsangbukdo, and Kyongsnagnamdo. Descriptive statistics, Pearsons Correlation and Multiple Regression were used to analyse the data. The subjects showed strong intention of breastfeeding. The subjects showed favorable attitudes toward breastfeeding. This fact showed significant correlation with the belief that their breastfeeding intention was due to the advantage of breast milk for the infant with regard to allergy prevention, disease protection, contribution to intellectual development, psychological closeness between mother and infant, convenience, cost, and the reduction of breast cancer risk and weight of the mother. No item of outcome evaluation did showed significant correlation with behavioral intension. The subjects were influenced about breastfeeding by their referents such as siblings and friends with breastfeeding experience, their mothers and husbands, and mothers-in-law. Most items of the control beliefs had a significant influence on the intention of breastfeeding. The subjects felt they could not control the situation ie. "when I have to breastfeed in public". However they felt they could control the situation ie. "when I suffer from mastitis", "when I have to cut down on coffee, alcohol, and smoking", "when I have Caesarean section", "when I need to maintain breast condition", and "when the infant hates to suck my nipple". Regression analysis revealed that control beliefs and attitudes toward breastfeeding could predict the behavioral intention of breastfeeding. Control beliefs were the most important factor in predicting behavioral intention. Therefore, nutrition education is needed to enhance the ability to cope with difficult situations while breastfeeding and increase faborable attitudes toward breastfeeding.

A Study on the Sociopsychological Factors Influencing the Dietary Compliance of Diabetics by Using Focus Group Interview / 대한지역사회영양학회지

The purpose of this study was to find the sociopsychological factors influencing the compliance of dietary regimen in diabetes by using focus group interviews. The data were collected from fifty three diabetes patients in eleven focus groups from September 1997 to March, 1998 in Seoul and Suwon Korea. The interviews were tape-recorded and the contents of the interviews were analysed by researchers. The subjects knew the causes, complications, and therapies of diabetes although they were incorrect at times . Patients had a wide range of outcome expectations from very optimistic to pessimistic. They recognized diabetes as a disease which needs life-time care, and they though that good care could provide a normal life. One the other hand they thought diabetes could lead to death through complications, and cause financial problems as well as social isolation. As for self-efficacy they recognized the importance of compliance to diet regimen but they thought the diet therapy was very difficult and were not very willing to follow it. They felt medical professionals, especially doctors, were influential for the therapies. However they frequently felt counselling provided by doctors was insufficient in time and content and led to attitude problems. They felt support from families and others was often insufficient and inadequate. Nutrition education fostering outcome expectation, social support, and self-efficacy is needed to increased compliance. The most influential referents were medical professional including doctors, nurses, dieticians, so their role in diet therapy should by emphasized.

A Study on the Sociopsychological Factors Influencing the Dietary Compliance of Diabetics Using Questionnaire / 대한지역사회영양학회지

The purpose of the study was to find the sociopsychological factors predicting the intention of compliance with the dietary regimen in diabetes with a questionnaire. Data were collected from 282 adult noninsulin-dependent diabetics in Seoul, Kyoggida, and Kyongsangbukdo in Korea. Stepwise multiple regression analysis was conducted with predictor variables from theories of the Health Belief Model, Social Cognitive Model, The Theory of Reasoned Action, and Social Support. The behavioral intention of compliance with the prescribed diet was the independent variable. Subjects norm self-efficacy knowledge about diet therapy, outcome expectation, relationship with medical team, threat of deterioration of disease, and social support were the independent variables, The mean score of behavior intention was high ie 35.3 out to 42. Subjective norm and self-efficacy were the significant variables to predict the intention of dietary compliance. These variables comprised 39% of the common variance. To increase dietary compliance by influence of the referents and improve self-efficacy significant referents must be included and concrete and practical methods to follow the dietary regimen must be provided in nutrition education.

A Study of Obesity Indices of Korean Adolescents and Related Factors / 대한지역사회영양학회지

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship of body mass index with environmental and dietary factors including nutrition knowledge, and nutrition attitude of Korean adolescents. Anthropometric measurements, questionnaire responses, and 24-hour dietary records of 531 elementary, 543 middle, and 533 high school students residing in Seoul and Kyunggi-do were collected. Data was analysed using SAS computer program. The results are as follows. Mean BMI of elementary school boys was higher than that of girls. However, there were no significant differences in mean BMI between sexes both in middle and high school students. Calcium and iron consumption were lowest among elementary and middle school students, respectively when the intake was expressed as a percentage of the Korean RDA. Energy, protein, vitamin A, vitamin B1, vitamin B2, niacin, and vitamin C intakes(% RDA) were lowest among high school students. The factors influencing BMI of elementary students were BMI of the parents in boys, and BMI of the father in girls. In middle school students, energy intake, fathers BMI, mothers nutrition knowledge and students BMI, and nutrition knowledge were related to the obesity indices of boys, while fathers and mothers BMI were related to the mean obesity index of girls. In high school students, nutrition knowledge and mothers nutrition attitude were related to the obesity index of boys, while BMI of parents was related to the obesity index of girls. In conclusion, mothers and fathers BMI were the most common factors influencing the BMI of these adolescents. Although these results can not determine if food behaviour directly affects BMI, it may influence the BMIs of family members, and therefore nutrition education to keep normal weight and desiradle food habits should be emphasized. More systematic studies to investigate the cause-effect relations of these factors are required.

A Study of Obesity Indices of Korean Adolescents and Related Factors / 대한지역사회영양학회지

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship of body mass index with environmental and dietary factors including nutrition knowledge, and nutrition attitude of Korean adolescents. Anthropometric measurements, questionnaire responses, and 24-hour dietary records of 531 elementary, 543 middle, and 533 high school students residing in Seoul and Kyunggi-do were collected. Data was analysed using SAS computer program. The results are as follows. Mean BMI of elementary school boys was higher than that of girls. However, there were no significant differences in mean BMI between sexes both in middle and high school students. Calcium and iron consumption were lowest among elementary and middle school students, respectively when the intake was expressed as a percentage of the Korean RDA. Energy, protein, vitamin A, vitamin B1, vitamin B2, niacin, and vitamin C intakes(% RDA) were lowest among high school students. The factors influencing BMI of elementary students were BMI of the parents in boys, and BMI of the father in girls. In middle school students, energy intake, fathers BMI, mothers nutrition knowledge and students BMI, and nutrition knowledge were related to the obesity indices of boys, while fathers and mothers BMI were related to the mean obesity index of girls. In high school students, nutrition knowledge and mothers nutrition attitude were related to the obesity index of boys, while BMI of parents was related to the obesity index of girls. In conclusion, mothers and fathers BMI were the most common factors influencing the BMI of these adolescents. Although these results can not determine if food behaviour directly affects BMI, it may influence the BMIs of family members, and therefore nutrition education to keep normal weight and desiradle food habits should be emphasized. More systematic studies to investigate the cause-effect relations of these factors are required.

A Study of Factors Influencing Weight Control Behavior in Adolescent Females / 대한지역사회영양학회지

This study was conducted to provide information about weight control behavior in adolescent females. To explain the behavior intention of dieting, conceptual framework based on "Social Support, Control and the Stress Process Model" and "Theory of Reasoned Action" was used. The survey was carried out by self-questionnaires with 463 female high school and college students in Daegu. Analysis of data was done using mean, correlation and multiple regression analysis with the SAS computer program. A society preoccupied with thinness gives a burden to women, and this burden may stress dissatisfaction with body image. Social perception of ideal body image except parents' perception, and salient others' perception, and salient others' expectation of subjects' body image except parents' expectation, were much thinner than normal figures in this study. The influencing factors for behavior intention of dieting of the subjects were perceived stress and attitude toward diet behavior, especially beliefs of behavioral outcome. Influencing factors related to perceived stress-that is dissatisfaction of body image-were current figure, social perception of body image, effect of mass communication and others' estimation of subjects' body image with self-comparison with others, in order.

Drug Consumption and Nutritional Status of the Elderly in Chung-Buk Area: I. Diseades and Drug Consumption / 대한지역사회영양학회지

Three hundred sixty-two(male 131, female 231) elderly aged over 65 in Chungbuk area were interviewed to determine the disease states and drug usage patterns. The prebalence of disease was 78% and women reported more chronic diseases(83%) than men(71%). Elderly who live with spouse and have an occupation have a lower rate of disease. Average number of diseases of the elderly was 1.8+/-1.1, and women(2.1+/-1.3) have significantly higher average number of diseases than that of men(1.4+/-0.7). Also the elderly in urban areas(2.1+/-1.4) have significantly higher number of diseases than that of the elderly in rural areas(1.6+/-0.9). Arthritis, hypertension, cardiovascular and gastric diseases were the most frequently listed chronic diseases in order for both men and women. Anemia and fracture of bone were relatively higher in women than in men. Particularly, the arthritis of the urban elderly have a rate of 1.5 times higher than that of the rural elderly. Fifty-two percent of the elderly were currently using drugs ; among drug users 71.2% used prescription drugs and 20.5% used nonprescription drugs. The average number taken per person was 2.1+/-1.4 and there was no sex or age difference. However, the elderly in rural areas (2.7+/-1.7) consumed a significantly higher number of drugs than those in urban areas(1.7+/-0.7). The average number of prescription drugs taken was 2.0+/-1.4 while the average of nonprescription drugs taken was 1.3+/-0.6. Analgesics and antihypertensive drugs were most commonly used. Vitamin and analgesics were the most frequently used self-prescribed drugs. It was noted that potential adverse drug interaction by concominant drug consumption for arthritis and antihypensive drug, abuse of digestants and antiacid without treatment of the underlying disease, and misuse of quick-acting bowel medications were problematic for the elderly. In addition drugs used for the elderly have some adverse effect on the digestive system. The types and composition of drugs used by the elderly were identified and presented. Medication compliance was poor and 13.5% reported adverse reactions such as edema, heartburn, nausea, and difficulty with eating. Seventeen percent of the elderly obtained drugs arranged by those other than medical staff. Also, even among those elderly who obtained drugs prescribed by a doctor, 69.1% of subjects had not receive instruction about potential adverse reactions. These results suggest that nutritional problems related to drug usage might exist and so dietitians, either individually or as members of health teams, need to have a better understanding of drug-nutrient interaction and closer supervision, and drug information/education service should therefore be provided to prevent or minimize adverse drug reaction in elderly users of medication.

Drug Use and Nutritional status of the Elderly in chungbuk area: IV. effects of drug Use & Health-Related Habits (Alcohol drinking, cigarette smoking & exercise) on Nutritional status / 대한지역사회영양학회지

The purposes of this study were to investigate the effects of drug use & the health-related habits(alcohol drinking, smoking and exercise) on the nutritional status of elderly. subjects were 362 free-living elderly aged over 65(male 131, female 231) in Chungbuk area. Interviews with questionaire on drug use, health-related habits, and nutrient intakes, anthropometric measurement and biochemical blood test were carried out from August to October in 1996. Energy intakes of the males who used drug were lower than those of males who did not use any drug, while energy intakes of the females who used drug were higher than those of females who did not. In biochemical indices, LDL-cholesterol level of the males who used drug was higher than that of males who did not have drug. serum triglycerides, VLDL-cholesterol and obesity degree(BMI & TS) of the females who used drug were higher than those of females who did not have drug. Alcohol drinking, smoking and exercise habits of the elderly who used drug had little effects on the nutrient intakes while those habits had considerable effects on biochemical indices and obesity degree. Among drug users, male drinkers showed higher triglycerides & HDL-cholesterol level, and female drinkers showed higher triglycerides and lower total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol level, compared to non drinkers. Among female drug users, smokers showed lower body mass index(BMI) compared to non smokers. Males and females who had both drinking and smoking habits showed higher serum triglycerides and VLDL-cholesterol level. Especially females who had both drinking and smoking habits showed lower BMI & Tricep skinfold thickness compared to those who had netiher drinking nor smoking habits.

Drug Consumption and Nutritional Status of the Elderly in Chung-buk Area: III. Psychological Effect on Drug Consumption and Nutritional Status / 대한지역사회영양학회지

The influences of depression and health anxieth on the elderly's drug use and nutritional status were evaluated by interviews with questionaire from August to October in 1996. One hundred and thirty-one male and 231 female elderly in Chung-buk area were the sample for this study. Men's depression score was 22.3 and 25.2 for women, respectively out of 27. Women showed a significantly higher score for depression and health anxiety than men. Gender, age, marital status, number of family, education, income, medical insurance, and mobility and region significantly affected the health anxiety score. The higher depression score the elderly had, the more frequently they took drugs. Conversely. the higher depression score the elderly had, the less frequently they took nutritional supplements. For women, the higher depression score the elderly had, the more they smoked. More depressed elderly showed a significantly smaller BMI compared to the less depressed ones. A negative correlationship existed between the depression score and the elderly's nutrient intakes, especially energy intake which showed a significant negative correlation. There were no significant differences between health anxiety score and nutrient intakes of men. Women who had a higher health anxiety score consumed more energy significantly. The depression score did not affect the elderly's blood biochemical indices. Women who had a low health anxiety score showed a significantly higher HDL-C level.

Drug Consumption and Nutritional Status of the Elderly in Chung-buk Area: II. Nutritional Status of Urban and Rural Elderly / 대한지역사회영양학회지

The nutritional status of 362 elderly men and women in Chung-bud area was evaluated in terms of their nutrient intakes, biochemical and anthrophometric measurements by interviews with questionnaires from August to October 1996. Mean intake of all nutrients except ascorbic acid did not meet the RDA for this sample. Protein, vit A, reboflavin, calcium were the most likely to be deficient on the basis of propotions of elderly consuming less than 75% of the RDA. The subjects nutrient intake was significantly affected by gender, marital status, number of family, family composition, educational level, pocket money, and region. Men in rural areas and women over 75 in urban areas were the most vulnerable groups with nutritional deficiency. According to serum biochemical indices, mean level of cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL, total protein, albumin and iron belonged to normal range but mean level of HDL showed below the normal range. More elderly men and women in urban areas showed a higher percentage of abormal level of cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL and HDL than those in rural areas. More elderly men and women in rural areas had abnormal levels of RBC, Hematocrit and hemoglobin compared to those in urban areas. Mean height and weight of elderly men was 161.4cm and 56.2Kg, respectively and 149.1cm and 50.5kg for women. The elderly in rural areas were taller than those in urban areas but had less weight, MAC, TSF, MAMC. Mean BMI of this sample belonged to normal range. However, the elderly in rural areas had a higher rate of underweight and lower for overweight than those in urban areas. The elderly in urban areas had higher blood pressure than those in rural areas.