Aim: This study aimed to assess magnitude of the problem of overweight and obesity
among elderly population residing a rural community in an Upper Egypt governorate and
to identify status of associated co-morbidity factors.
Subjests And Methods: a cross-sectional community based study, conducted on a
random sample of elderly people aged 60 years or more in a village; located to the north
of El-Minia city, El-Minia governorate. Data were collected using an interview
questionnaire at a home visit during the period from January 2012 through June 2012.
Weight, height, and BMI were measured using reliable and standardized methods.
History of chronic diseases as diabetes, hypertension, osteoarthritis and depression was
obtained. RESULTS: A total of 319 elderly persons (35.1% males and 64.9% females)
were included in the study. The age of the subjects ranged between 60-93 years (mean
age in males 68.5 ± 6.1 & mean age in females 67.6 5 ± 6.8). Body Mass Index (BMI)
among the studied population shows that nearly 60% are either overweight or obese (in
different grades) and only 2.2 % are underweight. Overweight and obesity are
significantly more prevalent among persons in age group 60-69 years than among those
in 70-79 and =80 year's old categories (68.4% vs. 47.3% and 22.2% respectively).
Obesity is significantly more predominant among elderly with hypertension and
osteoarthritis (60.3%, 41.2%) while overweight was more significantly prevalent among
diabetics (44%). As BMI increase, the risk and severity of depression among elderly
population increase significantly and an obvious noticeable trend appears in this relation
between depression and BMI.
Conclusion: There is an increase in the prevalence of obesity and overweight more
among young old population in rural Minia. As BMI increase, the risk of hypertension,
osteoarthritis and diabetes significantly increased and severity of depression among
elderly population increase significantly.