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  • Title: Nutritional status, tobacco use and alcohol consumption of older persons in Botswana.
    Author: Clausen T, Charlton KE, Holmboe-Ottesen G.
    Journal: J Nutr Health Aging; 2006; 10(2):104-10. PubMed ID: 16554941.
    Abstract:
    AIM: To describe body mass index (BMI) distribution according to patterns of tobacco use, alcohol consumption and sociodemographic factors of older persons in Botswana. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Data were collected in 1998 as part of a national household survey of 1085 subjects aged 60 years and older. For the purpose of this analysis, data are utilised from a representative 50 % sub-sample (n=393; response rate = 72 %), in which weight and height were measured as part of a medical examination in the subjects' homes. RESULTS: A high prevalence of underweight (BMI < 18.5) was found in men (20.1 %), while overweight (BMI = 25-29.9) and obesity (BMI > or = 30) were common in women (21.3 % and 27.9 %, respectively). Thirty-four percent of the subjects reported alcohol consumption and 39 % reported tobacco use. Half of the sample used either one or both of the stimulants. Underweight was significantly associated with low socioeconomic status (OR=3.3; 95 % CI=1.3-8.2) and the use of a combination of alcohol and tobacco (OR=2.2; 95 % CI=1.1-4.4). Obesity was significantly associated with female gender (OR=4.9; 95 % CI=2.5-9.7) and younger age (60-69 years, compared to older groups; OR=3.2; 95 % CI=1.3-7.7). A higher than expected clustering of the three health-related risk factors (underweight, tobacco use and alcohol consumption) was found at 6.7 % (observed:expected ratio = 2.9). CONCLUSION: A double burden of undernutrition and overnutrition was found in this sample of older persons in an African country. A clustering of the three risk factors for increased morbidity (tobacco use, alcohol consumption and underweight) was evident. These findings indicate a need for health education to effect lifestyle behavioural change in older adults in the subregion.
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