Ageing dynamics in morpho-physiological characteristics among males of India

Abstract

Objectives: To evaluate the association between age and nutritional & functional status among elderly adult males from different populations of India, and to understand their health problems. Method: This study is a cross sectional survey conducted among the adult males of 10 different populations (n=1403) inhabiting different geographical areas of India having their own way of life within social and cultural settings, purely being ruled by their own local conditions and ethos and each group is a distinctly homogenous entity. The nutritional status (weight, height, waist, hip, and mid-upper arm circumferences), cardiovascular health (SBP, DBP, PR) and muscular strength (AGS-average grip strength), was assessed. To compute the extent of change with age, each variable was expressed in the form of a unique and novel percentage termed as “ageing index,” in the text, computed as (X 20 - X n)/ X20, where n denotes means at ages 50, 60, 70, and 80 years. Results: Nearly, all populations indicated a declining trend in stature, body weight, body mass index and average grip strength with advancing age whereas, the cardiovascular features showed an increasing trend with ageing. Conclusions: Various populations take different channels to ageing process. They vary in onset and intensity of ageing. Populations with high physical activity level have huge lacunae between the intake of nutrition and energy output as age advances; hence a systematic approach for taking care of nutritional needs of the older people would minimize this gap leading to healthier ageing not merely delayed.

Keywords

• ageing index,nutritional status,sunset syndrome

References

1. Antell DE, Taczanowski EM. (1999) How environment and lifestyle choices influence the aging process. Ann Plast Surg 43(6):585-598.