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Journal of Medical Sciences

Year: 2008 | Volume: 8 | Issue: 2 | Page No.: 177-181
DOI: 10.3923/jms.2008.177.181
Body Mass Index, Waist, Waist to Hip Ratio and Lipid Profile in Elderly Subjects Living in a Nursing Home
Adel A. Alhamdan

Abstract: In the present study, lipid profile and indices of obesity in elderly residents living in the Riyadh-nursing home, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was assessed. All elderly males (n = 48) living in the nursing home were included in the study. Body mass index, waist circumference and waist to hip ratio were measured. In addition, total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein-cholesterol, high density lipoprotein-cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations were measured in serum. The results show that 43.8% of the elderly were considered to be either overweight or obese. The results show that 29.2 and 33.3% of the subjects were having central obesity, as measured by waist circumference and waist to hip ratio, respectively. Twenty five percent and 20.8% of the subjects had high total cholesterol and high low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, respectively. About 42% of the elderly classified as having low high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol and 10.4% classified as having high triglyceride. Waist circumference was strongly correlated with body mass index (r = 90), whereas waist-to-hip ratio was less correlated (r = 0.64). Body mass index, waist circumference and wait-to-hip ratio were positively associated with triglyceride, whereas waist circumference and waist-to-hip ratio were negatively associated with high density lipoprotein-cholesterol. To conclude, the prevalence of central obesity was appreciable. Early detection of obesity, upon admission to nursing homes, would lead to early nutritional intervention, thus, help in preventing obesity-related complications and reducing medical-treatment costs.

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How to cite this article
Adel A. Alhamdan , 2008. Body Mass Index, Waist, Waist to Hip Ratio and Lipid Profile in Elderly Subjects Living in a Nursing Home. Journal of Medical Sciences, 8: 177-181.

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