Longitudinal changes in anthropometric characteristics of elderly Europeans. SENECA Investigators.

OBJECTIVE

Assess longitudinal changes in height, body weight, triceps skinfold thickness and circumferences in elderly Europeans.

DESIGN

Longitudinal study including baseline measurements taken in 1988/1989 which were repeated in 1993.

SETTING

Baseline and follow-up data were collected in nine European research towns: Hamme/Belgium (H/F), Roskilde/Denmark (R/DK), Haguenau/France (H/F), Romans/France (R/F), Padua/Italy (P/I), Culemborg/the Netherlands (C/NL), Vila Franca de Xira/Portugal (V/P), Betanzos/Spain (B/E), Yverdon/Switzerland (Y/CH). Single 1993 measurements were carried out in 4 towns: Coimbra/Portugal (C/P), Marki/Poland (M/PL), Ballymoney-Limavady-Portstewart/Northern Ireland/UK (BLP/NI/UK), Mansfield/Connecticut/USA (M/CT/USA).

SUBJECTS

Using standardized methodologies data were collected from a random stratified sample of elderly men and women born between 1913 and 1918 including a total of 1242 subjects in 1993.

RESULTS

At most sites stature had decreased by 1-2cm. Median weight changed by -1.5 kg to -3.5 kg in only three towns. An increase of at least 5 kg of body weight had taken place in 9% of men and 6% of women whereas 16% of both men and women had lost at least 5 kg of their baseline weight. Serial changes in triceps skinfold thickness, arm circumference and waist-to-hip ratio were small.

CONCLUSIONS

Height declined with age. Median changes in other anthropometric characteristics of interest were small. These changes resulted from both considerable gains and losses of body weight in a significant proportion of the SENECA populations.