Relationship of food access and consumption with the nutritional status of the elderly in the department of Atlantico

Abstract

United Nations, in 2012 stated that the population over 60 years, in developed countries has grown 1% annually. In old age, there are physical changes that require nutritional contributions because the body suffers deterioration that alters the functioning of different organs and systems. The research determined the relationship of food access and consumption with the nutritional status of older people from the "Colombia Mayor" program. Descriptive, correlational, cross-sectional study, with a sample of 603 people between 55 and 100 years old, in the department of Atlantico, studying demographic, socioeconomic, anthropometric and food consumption variables, through a Food Consumption survey used in the ENSIN 2015 and nutritional screening. High rates of malnutrition were evidenced (60.53%), mainly due to deficit (31.18%). Food was the first option in the expense of the economic subsidy (45.03%), finding malnutrition (57.77%); however, this figure increased as the second or third option was chosen(65.46% and 75%, respectively). People who consumed fruits and vegetables daily (37.1%) had a lower proportion of malnutrition than those who consumed them 2 -3 times a week (54.74% and 63.08%, respectively); those who consumed cereals daily (98.8%), 56.73% presented malnutrition.The findings found identify a relationship between the access and consumption variables with the nutritionalstatus of the population