Epidemiology of obesity in elderly people

Our study used data collected at Chung-Shing-Shin-Tseun community in Taiwan in May 1998 to evaluate the relationship between obesity and the cardiovascular and sociodemographic risk factors in elderly people. Individuals aged 65 and over were recruited as study subjects. A total of 1093 persons, out of 1774 registered residents, were contacted in face-to-face interview. The response rate was 61.6 percent. However only 586 respondents took blood tests and completed questionnaires. Analysis in this study was based on these 586 subjects. The chi-square analysis and multivariate logistic regression were used to study the significant correlates of obesity. Our results showed that 66 percent were men and 34 percent were women. The mean age was 73.1 +/- 5.3 years. The overweight proportions were 24.8 percent in elderly men and 29.7 percent in elderly women. The obesity proportions were 12.7 percent in elderly men and 11.5 percent in elderly women. After controlling the other covariates, the multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that overweight and obesity were associated with hypertension, hypertriglyceridemia, and hyperglycemia. In conclusions, the prevalence of overweight and obesity is high in Taiwanese elderly people. Thus, it is necessary to evaluate other metabolic disorders if one metabolic abnormality is observed.