Overweight and obesity measured by the body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (CW) and waist-to-hip ratio (W/H), of seniors of a municipal district in Zona da Mata, State of Minas Gerais, Brazil

Abstract This paper aimed to characterize the nutritional state of elders who participate in the Municipal Program of the Third Age (PMTI) in Viçosa, state of Minas Gerais. The study population was 183 elders aged between 60 and 90 years, attended by PMTI of Viçosa. The elders were evaluated through the anthropometric method, using weight, height, waist and hip circumferences to calculate the waist-to-hip ratio (W/H) and the body mass index (BMI). The group’s nutritional profile was bipolarization, with prevalences of high overweight (40,8%) and low weight (15,1%). The frequency of WC (waist circumference) increased and inadequate RCQ was high for both sexes (61,4%), being significantly larger between women. Results presented a preoccupying situation for that population, and pointed to need for taking controlling measures and overweight prevention, highlighting the low-weight as an important risk factor for morbimortality among elderly people.