Nutritional Screening and Physical Activity Status Assessment in Elderly: Comparison of Nutritional Screening Initiative (NSI), Short Nutritional Assessment Questionnaire (SNAQ), the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA)

Abstract

Background/Purpose: Malnutrition is quite common in the elderly. The aim of this study was to evaluate the nutritional and physical activity status of individuals over 65 years of age.Methods: The research was carried out on a total of 140 individuals. Demographic characteristics, anthropometric measurements, food consumption records, nutritional status (Nutritional Screening Initiative (NSI), Short Nutritional Assessment Questionnaire (SNAQ), Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA)) and physical activity levels (International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) of the individuals were evaluated.Results: Assessment of nutritional status revealed that a high risk of malnutrition was present in 14.3% and 30% of the males and females, respectively, as a result of the NSI (X2=6.102, p <0.05). Results of MNA demonstrated that 60.9% of men and 62.1% of women were found to have malnutrition (X2=7.035, p <0.05). According to SNAQ, 51 of the individuals (36.4%) were found to be at risk for body weight control.Conclusion: SNAQ was found to be a more general test in the assessment of the nutritional status, while the NSI and MNA were established to include more specific questions in accordance with the data obtained.