ABSTRACT
The objective is to select the best anthropometric measurements to characterize a healthy elderly population. For that, 1030 healthy elderly persons (508 men and 522 women) living independently or in an institution (in both public and private homes) were enrolled for this population-based, cross-sectional study conducted from February 2004 to May 2005. Anthropometric measurements were made by the same investigator according to standard techniques of the WHO. Across several age groups, men were significantly heavier and taller than women whereas skinfold thicknesses were significantly greater in women than men. Through statistical analysis we were able to identify the variables providing most information and that could also best discriminate between sex, age and independent versus institutionalized persons: height, weight, one of the skinfold thickness measurements and mid-upper arm circumference. The number of age groups in both the male and female populations could be limited to three.
Subject(s)
Aged/statistics & numerical data , Anthropometry/methods , Age Factors , Aged, 80 and over , Arm/anatomy & histology , Body Composition , Body Height/physiology , Body Weight/physiology , Cross-Sectional Studies , Female , Humans , Male , Population , Reference Values , Research Design , Residence Characteristics , Sex Factors , Skinfold ThicknessABSTRACT
The objective is to select the best anthropometric measurements to characterize a healthy elderly population. For that, 1030 healthy elderly persons (508 men and 522 women) living independently or in an institution (in both public and private homes) were enrolled for this population-based, cross-sectional study conducted from February 2004 to May 2005. Anthropometric measurements were made by the same investigator according to standard techniques of the WHO. Across several age groups, men were significantly heavier and taller than women whereas skinfold thicknesses were significantly greater in women than men. Through statistical analysis we were able to identify the variables providing most information and that could also best discriminate between sex, age and independent versus institutionalized persons: height, weight, one of the skinfold thickness measurements and mid-upper arm circumference. The number of age groups in both the male and female populations could be limited to three (AU)
El objetivo es la selección de las variables antropométricas más adecuadas para caracterizar poblaciones sanas de personas mayores. Para ello se han seleccionado aleatoriamente 1030 de estas personas (508 hombres y 522 mujeres) institucionalizados en residencias públicas, privadas y no institucionalizados. Todas las medidas antropométricas se realizaron por parte del mismo investigador de acuerdo con las técnicas estandarizadas por la OMS. En todos los grupos de edad se ha encontrado que los hombres son significativamente más altos y tienen un peso mayor que las mujeres, al contrario que ocurre con los distintos pliegues. Mediante el análisis estadístico de los datos hemos podido identificar las variables que proporcionan mayor información y que además permiten diferenciar los sujetos por sexo, edad y lugar de residencia: peso, altura, uno de los pliegues y la circunferencia muscular del brazo. En cuanto a los segmentos de edad, pueden reducirse a tres (AU)
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Aged , Body Weights and Measures/statistics & numerical data , Reference Values , Geriatric Assessment/methods , Multivariate Analysis , Age and Sex Distribution , Socioeconomic FactorsABSTRACT
Se hace un estudio bibliográfico sobre los conceptos de composición corporal, sus modelos y las técnicas de valoración (AU)
We present a bibliographic study on a number of concepts of corporal compostiion, the corresponding models and the applicable assessment tecniques (AU)