Area of Science:

• Gerontology and Public Health
• Nutritional Epidemiology
• Socioeconomic Determinants of Health

Context:

• The study analyzes the nutritional status of Mexican older adults using data from the 2018 National Health and Aging Study (Enasem 2018).
• It examines factors contributing to both malnutrition and overweight/obesity in this demographic.
• A secondary cross-sectional analysis was employed.

Purpose:

• To identify social determinants, health-related factors, and stressful life events impacting nutritional status in older Mexican adults.
• To investigate factors associated with malnutrition (16.1% prevalence) and excess weight (43.6% prevalence) in this population.
• To inform targeted interventions for improving nutritional health in aging populations.

Summary:

• Malnutrition in older adults is linked to advanced age (≥80 years), lack of a partner, no formal education, self-perceived mobility issues, functional dependence, recent hospitalization, falls, low grip strength, and disaster/accident exposure.
• Excess weight is associated with being female, aged 60-79 years, underestimating weight status relative to BMI, having multiple comorbidities (≥3), somatic symptoms, and physical inactivity.
• The study highlights the complex interplay of factors influencing nutritional outcomes in older Mexicans.

Impact:

• Findings underscore the need for tailored interventions to address malnutrition and excess weight among older adults.
• Identifies key risk factors that can guide public health strategies for healthy aging in Mexico.
• Provides evidence for the importance of considering social and health-related factors in nutritional assessments for the elderly.