Nutrient intake in relation to central and overall obesity status among elderly people living in the Mediterranean islands: The MEDIS study

Tyrovolas, S.; Psaltopoulou, T.; Pounis, G.; Papairakleous, N.; Bountziouka, V.; Zeimbekis, A.; Gotsis, E.; Antonopoulou, M.; Metallinos, G.; Polychronopoulos, E.; Lionis, C.; Panagiotakos, D.B.

doi:10.1016/j.numecd.2009.10.012

« Previous Next »Nutrition, Metabolism & Cardiovascular Diseases
Volume 21, Issue 6 , Pages 438-445, June 2011

Nutrient intake in relation to central and overall obesity status among elderly people living in the Mediterranean islands: The MEDIS study

S. Tyrovolas
- Department of Nutrition Science – Dietetics, Harokopio University, Athens, Greece
T. Psaltopoulou
- Department of Hygiene, Epidemiology, and Medical Statistics, School of Medicine, University of Athens, Athens, Greece
G. Pounis
- Department of Nutrition Science – Dietetics, Harokopio University, Athens, Greece
N. Papairakleous
- Department of Nutrition Science – Dietetics, Harokopio University, Athens, Greece
V. Bountziouka
- Department of Nutrition Science – Dietetics, Harokopio University, Athens, Greece
A. Zeimbekis
- Health Center of Kalloni, General Hospital of Mitilini, Mitilini, Greece
E. Gotsis
- Department of Nutrition Science – Dietetics, Harokopio University, Athens, Greece
M. Antonopoulou
- Clinic of Social and Family Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Crete, Heraklion, Greece
G. Metallinos
- Department of Nutrition Science – Dietetics, Harokopio University, Athens, Greece
E. Polychronopoulos
- Department of Nutrition Science – Dietetics, Harokopio University, Athens, Greece
C. Lionis
- Clinic of Social and Family Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Crete, Heraklion, Greece
D.B. Panagiotakos
- Department of Nutrition Science – Dietetics, Harokopio University, Athens, Greece
- Corresponding author at: 46 Paleon Polemiston St., Glyfada, 166 74 Attica, Greece. Tel.: +30 210 960 3116; fax: +30 210 960 0719.

Received 20 May 2009; received in revised form 2 September 2009; accepted 26 October 2009. published online 15 February 2010.

Abstract

Background and Aim

The aim of the present work was to evaluate the relationship between energy-generating nutrients and the presence of central and overall obesity after correcting for socio-demographic, lifestyle and clinical characteristics, among healthy elders.

Methods and Results

During 2005–2007, 553 elderly men and 637 elderly women (mean age 74±7years) from eight Mediterranean islands in Greece and Cyprus, were enrolled. The retrieved information included demographic, bio-clinical and dietary characteristics. MedDietScore assessed adherence to the Mediterranean dietary pattern.

The prevalence of obesity was 27% in males and 39% in females (p<0.001), while 73% of males and 87% of females had central obesity. The prevalence of diabetes, hypercholesterolemia and hypertension was higher in the obese than in the non-obese participants (p<0.01). After adjusting for various confounders, a 1% increase in carbohydrate consumption was associated with a 12% (95% CI 0.78–0.99) lower likelihood of having central obesity, while a 1% increase in carbohydrate and protein consumption was associated with a 14% (95% CI 0.78–0.95) and 16% (95% CI 0.72–0.97) lower likelihood of being obese, respectively. Vegetable protein was found to be associated with a 15% (95% CI 0.77–0.93) lower likelihood of being obese while, only low glycemic index carbohydrates seem to be associated with a 6% (95% CI 0.90–0.98) lower likelihood of having central obesity.

Conclusions

The presented findings suggest that a diet high in carbohydrates and vegetable protein is associated with a lower likelihood of being obese and may help elderly people to preserve normal weight.

Keywords: Elderly, Obesity, Central obesity, Nutrient intake, Epidemiology