Ageing dynamics in morpho-physiological characteristics among males of India

Year 2012, Volume: 3 Issue: 1, 10 - 20, 01.11.2012

Satwanti Kapoor Prerna Bhasin Meenal Dhall Deepali Verma Anup Kumar Kapoor

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

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