Physical Characteristics and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living of the Elderly(85+) in Kyungpook Sung-Ju Area / 대한지역사회영양학회지

The purpose of this study was to investigate the physical characteristics and instrumental activities of daily living(IADL) of the elderly (85+). The subjects were three-hundred elderly people over the age of 85, living in Kyungpook Sung-Ju area who have no problems in daily living. The survey on anthropometric measures and IADL were carried out by individual measurement and interviews using measuring devices and questionnaires. The subject group of the study was composed of 27% males and 73% females, the average age being 87 years old. Notable physical features of the subjects include considerably short statues and small physiques compared to the average Korean elder. The mean Body Mass Index(BMI) was 20.9. The average percentage of body fat in male and female was 21.7% and 29.5% respectively, and the average waist/hip ratio(WHR) was 0.9 and 0.85 respectively. The percentage of the subjects who were able to perform all the IADL was 51% in males and 25% in females. The male subjects were more capable than the females in all the IADL except for preparing meals. BMI showed positive correlations withy weight(r=699), WHR(r=0.157), body fat percentage(r=0.57), lean body mass(r=0368) and total body water(r=0.368). WHR also had positive correlation with weight(r=0.184), BMI(r=0.157), lean body mass(r=0.149) and total body water (r=0.148). Body fat percentage had a positive correlation with weight(r=0.147) and BMI(r=0.265) and total body water(r=0.265). In summary, the elderly(85+) in the Sung-Ju area had considerably smaller physiques than the average Korean elderly and showed a normal range of BMI in average. The IADL of the elderly(85+) appeared to have a positive correlation with lean body mass and total body water and a negative correlation with body fat percentage.

The Relationship between Chewing Ability and Nutritional Intake Status in the Elderly of Rural Community / 대한지역사회영양학회지

This study aims to examine the relationship between chewing ability and nutritional intake status in the rural elderly. The subjects were 150 rural-dwelling elderly persons(68 males and 82 females) aged 65 years and over in Sungju-Gun, Kyunfsangpookdo. The respondents were interviewed using the questionnaires and measurments taken from a 24-hour recall method from February to April in 1998. Fifty-nine subjects(39.3%) were classified with normal chewing ability and sixty-four subjects(42.7%) could carry out all of the 10 ADL items by themselves. In addition, the group who were able to chew had more teeth and significantly higher ADL scores than the other group(p<0.01), whereas DMF value was significantly lower(p<0.001). The subjects with normal chewing ability also had higher of intakes of energy, protein, fat, carbohydrates, dietary fiber, salt, potassium, niacin, thiamin and riboflavin than in the unable group(p<0.05). As far as daily food intakes were concerned, considerable differences were revealed in the levels of grain and products and vegetables consumed depending on chewing ability(p<0.001). The results of the stepwise and vegetables consumed depending on chewing ability daily living activities and health self-assessment(p<0.05) were the most significant factors for energy intake status.