Anthropometric and dietary differences among Mexican older adults with and without adequate body image perception

We compared anthropometric and dietary indicators between groups of older Mexican adults with accurate or inaccurate body image perception (BIP).

A cross-sectional study was carried out with 201 older adults (age ≥ 60 years) of both sexes who completed the Stunkard scale for BIP, which consists of nine silhouettes with an equivalent of body mass index (BMI) status, then, the accuracy with their real BMI was calculated and reported energy and macronutrient intake through a 24-h dietary recall directed by different geriatric centers in Colima, Mexico. Basic anthropometry and bioelectrical impedance analyses were performed.

We found that 71.1% of the older adults had inaccurate BIP; 66.6% underestimated their body mass and 4.5% overestimated their body mass, the other 28.9% hat accurate BIP. The overall concordance between the real nutritional status and BIP was poor (kappa coefficient = 0.03). The inaccurate BIP group had a significantly higher mean body mass index, body fat percentage, muscle mass, and arm and calf circumference compared to the accurate BIP group (p < .001); only 4.3% of the older adults who were overweight and 6.2% who were obese had an accurate BIP. Regarding dietary consumption, we found significant differences only in energy and carbohydrate intake between the two groups. Finally, excess body fat was associated with an inaccurate BIP (OR: 2.8, 95% CI: 1.5-5.5).

In older adults, an inaccurate BIP is generally associated with high anthropometric values and less than adequate dietary intake.