Effect of nutrition counselling on nutritional status of Urban and Rural senior Citizens

A sample of 60 male senior citizens aged 60–75 yrs. i.e. 30 each from urban and rural areas belonging to low socio-economic status were selected from Ludhiana district. The average per capita monthly income was Rs. 898/- and Rs. 858/- in urban and rural subjects, respectively. Nutrition counselling was carried out for three months by 9 individual and 3 group contacts to both the groups alongwith their wives. Average daily energy intake in urban and rural subjects was 2297 & 2276 and 2285 & 2269 Kcal at before (BC) and after nutrition counseling (AC), respectively. It was observed that all the subjects consumed diets inadequate in protein Vit. A, niacin, riboflavin, Vit. B₁₂, iron and zinc, but adequate in energy, thiamine, calcium and phosphorus. The data showed that the most common health problems faced by the subjects were of cataract, toothlessness, anaemia, constipation followed by vitamin B complex deficiency symptoms. The problem of body, back and knee pain was also reported by 40 and 50 per cent of the subjects in urban and rural areas, respectively Nutrition counselling showed a decrease in the problem of constipation, cough, cold, acidity, indigestion and reduction in body weight. Psychological depression had a very significant association with poor nutritional status. It is recommended that free health care facilities or at subsidized rates should be made available for senior citizens especially for low income group.