This study provides the prevalence, by gender and age-groups, of observed physical performance test (PPT) assessing functional limitation for representative samples of elderly Brazilian subjects living in São Paulo city. This cross-sectional epidemiological study, both population- and household-based, is part of a multicenter survey (SABE) undertaken in seven Latin American and Caribbean countries and coordinated by the Pan-American Health Organization. From January 2000 to March 2001, 2,143 elderly individuals (>or= 60 years) of both sexes were examined. Of this total, 1,894 participated in the study. PPT included handgrip strength, standing balance, timed repeated "chair stand", and "pick up a pen". Results have shown (based on chi-square) that the prevalence relating to the performance differed according to sex, age group, and from one test to another. With increasing age, there was a reduction (p = 0.000) in both males and females in the proportion of individuals that had better results on the tests. The male group, on every test, when compared to women from the same age group, had a more individuals with better scores. Data suggest that older individuals and women have more functional limitations.

The article presents gender and age-specific selected anthropometric data for a representative sample of elderly Brazilians in the city of São Paulo. This was a cross-sectional, population-based household survey. A total of 1,894 older adults (men and women, > 60 years) were examined from January to March 2001. Data were presented as means and percentiles for body mass (BM); height or stature (ST); body mass index (BMI); waist (WC), hip (HC), arm (AC), and calf (CC) circumferences; triceps skinfold thickness (TST); and arm muscle circumference (AMC), and differences were described according to age (all variables) and gender (BMI). Except for HC (men), all anthropometric variables were lower in the oldest than in the youngest individuals (p < 0.01) in both genders. BMI was significantly higher (p < 0.01) in women than men (all age groups). The observations suggest that there is loss of muscle mass and redistribution and reduction of fat mass with age (both genders). The data can be used in clinical practice and epidemiological studies based on interpretation of anthropometric measurements in the elderly in São Paulo.

ResumoIntrodução: O objetivo do estudo foi verificar a associação entre insatisfação com a imagem corporal e dois indicadores de estado nutricional em universitários brasileiros, assim como identificar o melhor preditor de insatisfação com a imagem corporal em universitários brasileiros. Métodos: Trata-se de um estudo transversal, realizado com 256 universitários (128 homens). Foram coletados dados demográficos (sexo e idade), antropométricos (massa corporal, estatura e espessura de dobras cutâneas) e de imagem corporal (silhueta atual e silhueta ideal). O índice de massa corporal (< 18,5 ou ≥ 25,0 kg/m² = inadequado) e o somatório de espessura de cinco dobras cutâneas (≤ 30 ou ≥ 62 e ≤ 43 ou ≥ 76 mm = inadequado, para homens e mulheres, respectivamente) foram derivados subseqüentemente. A análise incluiu estatística descritiva, teste de proporção, qui-quadrado e regressão logística. Resultados: A média de idade dos indivíduos foi de 23,1 anos (desvio padrão = 5,3), e a freqüência de insatisfeitos com a imagem corporal foi de 78,8%. A insatisfação com a imagem corporal não se associou ao sexo e ao índice de massa corporal. A análise multivariada demonstrou que a odds ratio associada ao somatório de espessura de cinco dobras cutâneas inadequado foi de 2,56. Conclusão: O índice de massa corporal não foi determinante de insatisfação com a imagem corporal, enquanto o somatório de espessura de cinco dobras cutâneas mostrou-se um preditor significativo desse distúrbio, independentemente do sexo. Descritores: Imagem corporal, estado nutricional, estudantes, auto-imagem. AbstractIntroduction: The objective of this study was to investigate the association between body image dissatisfaction and two indicators of nutritional status in Brazilian university students, and also to identify the best predictor of body image dissatisfaction in Brazilian university students. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study of 256 university students (128 males). Data were collected on demographics (age and sex), anthropometrics (body mass, stature and skinfold thickness), and body image (current silhouette and ideal silhouette). Body mass index (< 18.5 or ≥ 25.0 kg/m² = abnormal) and the sum of five skinfolds (≤ 30 or ≥ 62 and ≤ 43 or ≥ 76 mm = abnormal, for men and women, respectively) were then calculated. The analysis included descriptive statistics, proportionality testing, chi-square test and logistic regression. Results: Mean age of the sample was 23.1 years (standard deviation = 5.3) and the frequency of body image dissatisfaction was 78.8%. Body image dissatisfaction was not associated with sex or body mass index. The multivariate analysis demonstrated that the odds ratio for abnormal sum of five skinfolds was 2.56. Conclusion: Body mass index was not a determinant of body image dissatisfaction, whereas the sum of five skinfolds proved to be a significant predictor of this disorder, irrespective of sex.

Condutas negativas à saúde em estudantes universitários brasileiros Risk behaviors to health in Brazilian college students