Introduction:
As people age, human's body undergo several changes that affect their nutritional needs. Malnutrition as under nutrition and over nutrition is a health problem that hugely affects the elderly; it can cause a severe functional problem, increase risk of frailty, chronic diseases and mortality
Method:
This study ia an analytic cross sectional study with the attempt to contact every active lectures and workers of Atma Jaya Catholic University of Indonesia (160 people), then conducting an interview and measurement on those who will to participate fully (91 people) from August to December 2014.
Result:
Most respondent were from the faculty of medicine (62.5%), man (59.3%), middle aged (62.6%, median=54.0 y.o), and married (85.7%). No respondent were categorized as malnourished by the MNA-F, but 9 were at risk (9.9%) even though there are 36 respondent (39.6%) that has high BMI. Mental and emotional state (p=0.000047) along with acute disease (p=0.023) as a statiscally significant association with risk of malnutrition. Education (p=0.311), socio-economic state (p=0.542), living arrangement (p=0.419), and chronic disease (p=0.352) has no statistical association with risk of malnutrition. Qualitative study showed that people living alone, reducing weight without proper physical activity and suffered from a chronic gastritis has a higher tendency to be at risk of malnutrition.
Conclusion:
This study showed that both risk of malnutrition and obesity were present at middle-aged and elderly that worked in Atma Jaya Catholic University. Middle-aged and elderly people who had a mental emotional problem and an acute disease have a higher risk of being malnourished. The qualitative study showed that more attention is needed for those living alone, lack of physical activity, and suffering a chronic gastrointestinal problems. |