Objective: To know the prevalence of low body weight among middleaged and elderly people in general rural areas of China and investigate the influence factors.
Methods: A total of 25 464 participants who were 45 years old and above from2010-2012 China National Nutrition and Health Surveillance as subjects to investigate the prevalence of low body weight. For 545 low body weight participants, we performed a1∶ 2 case-control study to investigate the influence factors. The content of survey included3-condecutive days-24-hour dietary recall, physical examinations, physical activity and social economic factor.
Results: The prevalence of low body weight among middle-aged and elderly people was 5. 27%, 5. 52% for male and 5. 05% for female. The prevalence of low body weight increased with the age( P < 0. 01). The daily intake of energy, total proteins, high quality proteins, fat and fruits were lower in low body weight than normal body weight among middle-aged and elderly people( P < 0. 01), however, the consumption of smoking and alcohol were higher in low body weight than normal body weight( P < 0. 01). Multivariate conditional Logistic regression analysis showed that the daily intake of total proteins, vegetables and fruits were protective factors and unhealthy lifestyle such as smoking were risk factors among low body weight people.
Conclusion: The prevalence of low body weight at a higher level among middle-aged and elderly people in general rural areas of China. It is necessary to promote the middle-aged and elderly people to increase the consumption of high-protein foods, vegetables and fruits, quit smoking and control drinking.
Keywords: dietary; lifestyle; low body weight; middle-aged and elderly people.