Question

The cites that most (76%) adults ages 65 and over believe they have good to excellent health.

a) How is this explained when chronic illnesses are more prevalent in the elderly and most have comorbidities?

b) Use two indicators of health that are referenced in this chapter to explain your answer.

c) Discuss why BMI may not be a useful tool to measure body composition in the elderly.

Answer 1

a).Even if they have comorbidities , their lifestyle will be in healthy manner.Doing physical exercise, eating a healthy and balanced diet thus they can maintain good health. For example , an adult with 65 having hypertension .He maintain the good health practices which mentioned above and taking the antihypertensive daily can maintain good health.

b).For an individual health the health indicators are morbidity indicator, nutritional status and quality of life.

c).BMI calculates on the basis of amount of muscle only not on amount of fat in the body.In the old age muscle wastage occur.Reduction in the muscle of the body so BMI will be low for those individuals it failed to recognize the amount of fat in the body.