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Nutritional Risk among Elderly Rural Midwestern Women
Author(s) -
Pollina Leslee K.,
McKee Diane M.
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
family and consumer sciences research journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.372
H-Index - 31
eISSN - 1552-3934
pISSN - 1077-727X
DOI - 10.1177/1077727x00291001
Subject(s) - environmental health , gerontology , medicine
Nutritional risk in relation to depression and eating disorder symptoms was assessed among a sample of rural, elderly Midwestern women. Thirty‐seven community‐dwelling women ( M age = 72.37, SD = 16.66) were recruited from senior center nutrition sites and other venues. Body mass index (BMI) was derived from bioelectric impedance measurements, and participants completed several questionnaires including the Level I Nutrition Screen, the Beck Depression Inventory, and the Eating Attitudes Test (EAT). Results indicated that 72% of participants had BMI scores outside the healthy range for older adults, but they were more likely to be overweight than underweight. Other areas of nutritional concern were identified. Several nutritional risk items were associated with eating disorder symptoms and with higher depression scores. However, in an elderly population, EAT items may reflect health‐related as well as eating disorder symptoms. The need for comprehensive nutritional evaluations involving psychosocial and environmental factors is discussed.