Abstract

Introduction: Nutritional assessment in the elderly by anthropometry is part of a toolkit; however, aging causes changes in stature which can alter the interpretation of the measurements. Nutritional assessment is part of this process and stature is a measurement that changes with age. Objective: To analyze the anthropometric measurements of estimating stature on the body mass index to assess nutritional status in the elderly. Method: A cross sectional study with 344 elderly people in the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, was conducted. Anthropometric measurements including body weight (BW), height (H), mid arm span (MAS) and knee height (KH) were carried out and BMI calculated as: BMI1 (BW/H2), BMI2 [BW/(MASx2)2] and BMI3 [BW/(equation of KH)2]. To compare means an independent sample t Student test was used. Chi square and weighted kappa coefficient tests were employed to analyze differences and agreements among the different BMI. Data were analyzed using SPSS 12.0. Results: The BMI1 mean was 24,7 kg/m2 ± 5,6; BMI2 mean was 23,3 kg/m2 ± 6,1 and BMI3 mean was 24,7 kg/m2 ± 5,6. The weighted kappa between BMI1 and BMI3 was 0,78 and between BMI1 and BMI2 was 0,61. Conclusions: A high association was demonstrated between knee height followed by mid arm span when these measurements were used on BMI. Knee height seems to be the best measurement of real stature.