ABSTRACT

 This study was carried out to determine the lifestyle and anthropometric status of the elderly in Ayamelum Local Government Area of Anambra State. The study sought to assess the personal and socio-economic characteristics of the elderly, determine lifestyle practices affecting the nutrition of the elderly, identify factors causing lifestyle changes, determine nutritional status of the elders using anthropometry and determine the relationship between their anthropometric status and lifestyle patterns. A systematic sampling technique where all the communities were arranged alphabetically was used to select the communities for the survey and every odd numbered community was selected. Then simple random sampling was used to select the households and individuals for the survey. The samples were drawn regardless of their sex. Primary data were collected by administering the questionnaire by the interviewer. Anthropometric data were obtained using a portable weighing scale for weight measured in kilograms, height in centimeters using a non stretchable calibrated wood, and waist and hip circumferences were measured using a non stretchable measuring tape. Analytical tools adopted for the study included frequency, percentage distribution and pearson coefficient. Data from weight and height, waist and hip circumference of the respondents were used to derive the BMI and Waist-Hip ratio, respectively. The BMI was graded according to WHO (2003) reference. Lifestyle patterns were analyzed using a descriptive statistics. The result of the study revealed that alcohol consumption is moderately used as 24.2% take alcohol daily and 36.9% of the sampled elders were alcoholics. Low level of cigarette smoking was observed, 15.3% of the sampled elders smoked. On the contrary, there existed a high level of physical activity among the elders and this was because, majority of them were farmers and 61.6% engaged in physical activity. It was observed that obesity and underweight were not prevalent as 53.4% were normal and 36.6% were overweight. It was observed that factors causing lifestyle changes were not significant except for alcohol consumption because of high engagement in physical activity.. Findings from the study revealed a high prevalence of healthy lifestyle among the elderly. Though there was prevalence of healthy lifestyle among the elders, it is recommended that the elders should be enlightened on effect of alcohols in the body. This is to stop further growth of alcohol consumption as the level might increase exponentially if care is not taken.