Relación entre la composición corporal y la ingesta alimentaria con la calidad de vida en adultos mayores del cantón Riobamba, 2021.

Abstract

The objective of the current investigation was to determine the relationship between body composition and food intake with the quality of life in elderly adults who attend the FIGFARMA medical center in the canton of Riobamba, 2021. This is an observational, descriptive, non-experimental, cross-sectional, and correlational study. The study sample consisted of 178 elderly adults. Body composition was determined by bio impedance, food intake was obtained through consumption frequency surveys, and quality of life was determined using the IQWOL questionnaire. The statistical analysis allowed us to determine that as BMI increases, there is a decrease in muscle mass and a higher percentage of fat mass and visceral adiposity (p = 0.000), parameters that are linked to food intake. As age increases, muscle mass decreases and visceral adiposity increases (p = 0.000). These findings allow us to conclude that there is a positive relationship between body composition and food intake with the quality of life in the elderly adults studied. The higher the BMI, percentage of fat, and visceral adiposity, the lower the percentage of muscle mass. The progression of obesity is a factor for the development of sarcopenia, that is, as BMI increases, the percentage of muscle decreases, being another factor in the decrease of muscle strength and therefore quality of life.