Anthropometrical evaluation of elderly blacks in the Orange Free State
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.21504/sajg.v3i1.31Abstract
The anthropometry of elderly blacks (65+ years) was investigated in order to provide a set of values for future reference and comparison with known studies. Four hundred blacks aged 65 years and older were randomly selected from ten towns in the Orange Free State and admitted to the study after informed consent had been obtained from them. The subjects' height, weight, upper-arm circumference and skinfolds (triceps, biceps, supra iliac and subscapular) were measured. Body mass index and hone-free upper-arm muscle area were calculated. It appears that South African elderly blacks are shorter in stature and the males are leaner than persons in the same age group in developed countries. Elderly black females in South Africa appear to be heavier than their male counterparts, and compare well with groups of elderly females in other studies. The findings suggest that sets of reference values derived from studies in developed countries are not applicable to the South African black elderly population.References
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Bester, F.C.J., Weich, D.J.V. & Albenyn, E.W. 1992. Socio-economic circumstances and functional abilities of elderly black persons in the Orange Free State. South African Medical Journal, 82: 110-113.
Bishop, C.W. 1984. Reference values for arm muscle area. arm fat area. subscapular skin fold thickness, and sum of skin fold thicknesses for American adults. Journal for Parental and Enteral Nutrition. 8: 515-22.
Bowen. P.E. & Custer, P.B. 1984. Reference values and age-related trends for arm muscle area, arm fat area, and sum of skin folds for United States adults. Journal of American College Nutrition, 3: 357-76.
Burr, M.L. & Phillips, K.M. 1984. Anthropometric norms in the elderly. British Journal of Nutrition, 51: 165-69.
Chumlea, W.C., Roche, A.F. & Mukherjee, D.1986. Some anthropometric indices of body composition for elderly adults. Journal of Gerontology, 41: 36-39.
Durnin, J.V.G. & Wormesley, J. 1974. Body fat assessed from total body density and its estimation from skinfold thickness: measurements on 481 men and women aged from 16 to 72 years. British Journal of Nutrition. 32: 77-96.
Frisancho, A.R. 1984. New standards of weight and body composition by frame size and height for assessment of nutritional status of adults and the elderly, American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 40: 808-19.
Harris,T., Cook, E.F., Garrison, R., Higgins, M., Kannel, W. & Goldman, L. 1988. Body mass index and mortality among non-smoking older persons: the Framingham Heart Study. Journal of the American Medical Association. 259: 1520-24.
Kish, L. 1949. A procedure for objective respondent selection within the household. Journal of the American Statistical Association, 44: 380-87.
Master, A.M., Lasser, R.P. & Beckman, G. 1960. Table of average weight and height of Americans aged 65 to 94 years: relationship of weight and height to survival. Journal of the American Medical Association, 172: 658-62.
Netland, P.A. & Brownstein, H. 1985. Anthropometric measurements for Asian and Caucasian elderly. Journal of the American Dietetics Association. 85: 221-23.
Simonopoulos, A.P. & Van Itallie, T.B. 1984. Body weight, health, and longevity. Annals of Internal Medicine. 100: 285-95.
Tobias, P.V. 1972a. Growth and stature in Southern African populations. In: Vorster, D.J.M. (Ed.) The human biology of environmental change. Proceedings of a conference held in Blantyre, Malawi, April 5-12, 1971.
Tobias, P.V. 1972b. Physique and body composition in Southern Africa Journal of Human Evolution, 1: 339-43.
Tobias, P.V. 1975. Stature and secular trend among Southern African Negroes and San (Bushmen). South African Journal of Medical Science, 40: 145-64.
Tobias, P.V. 1985. The negative secular trend, Journal of Human Evolution. 14: 347-56.
Tobias, P.V. 1986. War and the negative secular trend of 6-l l. South African blacks with observations on the relative sensitivity of cadaveric and non-cadaveric populations to secular effects. Proceedings of the Fifth Congress of the European Anthropology Association. pp. 451-61.
Vir, S.C. & Love, A.H.G. 1980. Anthropometric measurements in the elderly, Joumal of Gerontology, 26: 1-8.
Watermeyer, G.S. & Bourne, D.E. 1984. Demographic imperatives in geriatrics in South Africa, South African Journal of Continuing Medical Education. 2: 21-25.
Womersley, J., Durnin, J.V.G., Boddy, K. & Mahaffy, M. 1976. Influence of muscular development, obesity, and age on the fat-free mass of adults. Journal of Applied Physiology, 41: 223-29.
Yearick, E.S. 1978. Nutritional status of the elderly: anthropometric and clinical findings. Journal of Gerontology. 33: 657-62.
Bester, F.C.J., Weich, D.J.V. & Albenyn, E.W. 1992. Socio-economic circumstances and functional abilities of elderly black persons in the Orange Free State. South African Medical Journal, 82: 110-113.
Bishop, C.W. 1984. Reference values for arm muscle area. arm fat area. subscapular skin fold thickness, and sum of skin fold thicknesses for American adults. Journal for Parental and Enteral Nutrition. 8: 515-22.
Bowen. P.E. & Custer, P.B. 1984. Reference values and age-related trends for arm muscle area, arm fat area, and sum of skin folds for United States adults. Journal of American College Nutrition, 3: 357-76.
Burr, M.L. & Phillips, K.M. 1984. Anthropometric norms in the elderly. British Journal of Nutrition, 51: 165-69.
Chumlea, W.C., Roche, A.F. & Mukherjee, D.1986. Some anthropometric indices of body composition for elderly adults. Journal of Gerontology, 41: 36-39.
Durnin, J.V.G. & Wormesley, J. 1974. Body fat assessed from total body density and its estimation from skinfold thickness: measurements on 481 men and women aged from 16 to 72 years. British Journal of Nutrition. 32: 77-96.
Frisancho, A.R. 1984. New standards of weight and body composition by frame size and height for assessment of nutritional status of adults and the elderly, American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 40: 808-19.
Harris,T., Cook, E.F., Garrison, R., Higgins, M., Kannel, W. & Goldman, L. 1988. Body mass index and mortality among non-smoking older persons: the Framingham Heart Study. Journal of the American Medical Association. 259: 1520-24.
Kish, L. 1949. A procedure for objective respondent selection within the household. Journal of the American Statistical Association, 44: 380-87.
Master, A.M., Lasser, R.P. & Beckman, G. 1960. Table of average weight and height of Americans aged 65 to 94 years: relationship of weight and height to survival. Journal of the American Medical Association, 172: 658-62.
Netland, P.A. & Brownstein, H. 1985. Anthropometric measurements for Asian and Caucasian elderly. Journal of the American Dietetics Association. 85: 221-23.
Simonopoulos, A.P. & Van Itallie, T.B. 1984. Body weight, health, and longevity. Annals of Internal Medicine. 100: 285-95.
Tobias, P.V. 1972a. Growth and stature in Southern African populations. In: Vorster, D.J.M. (Ed.) The human biology of environmental change. Proceedings of a conference held in Blantyre, Malawi, April 5-12, 1971.
Tobias, P.V. 1972b. Physique and body composition in Southern Africa Journal of Human Evolution, 1: 339-43.
Tobias, P.V. 1975. Stature and secular trend among Southern African Negroes and San (Bushmen). South African Journal of Medical Science, 40: 145-64.
Tobias, P.V. 1985. The negative secular trend, Journal of Human Evolution. 14: 347-56.
Tobias, P.V. 1986. War and the negative secular trend of 6-l l. South African blacks with observations on the relative sensitivity of cadaveric and non-cadaveric populations to secular effects. Proceedings of the Fifth Congress of the European Anthropology Association. pp. 451-61.
Vir, S.C. & Love, A.H.G. 1980. Anthropometric measurements in the elderly, Joumal of Gerontology, 26: 1-8.
Watermeyer, G.S. & Bourne, D.E. 1984. Demographic imperatives in geriatrics in South Africa, South African Journal of Continuing Medical Education. 2: 21-25.
Womersley, J., Durnin, J.V.G., Boddy, K. & Mahaffy, M. 1976. Influence of muscular development, obesity, and age on the fat-free mass of adults. Journal of Applied Physiology, 41: 223-29.
Yearick, E.S. 1978. Nutritional status of the elderly: anthropometric and clinical findings. Journal of Gerontology. 33: 657-62.
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1994-04-01
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