[Physical activity and nutritional and psychosocial status in non-dependent elderly]. / La actividad física y el estado nutricional y psicosocial del anciano no dependiente.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the level of physical activity (PA) of a sample of independent non-institutionalised elderly and its relationship between nutritional status and psychosocial conditions of the elderly. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A multicentre cross-sectional descriptive study carried out in Health Centres of the city of Huesca in a sample size of patients over 75 years-old. Demographic, psychosocial, nutritional, anthropometric, and PA variables were analysed. The short scale of Minnesota in Spanish (VREM) was used to measure the latter. RESULTS: The mean age was 81.58 years (±4) with a gender distribution of 51.7% women. The group were in a good health condition overall: Mild physical impairment (45%), correct mental health as regards cognition (93%) or mood (88%), favourable social status (96%), independence for activities of daily living (100%), and a good perceived quality of life (score>70 in 70%). There was a mean of 4666.2 METS-Min/14 days obtained in PA, and 10% of the participants were identified as sedentary. A statistically significant inverse relationship (P<.05) was observed between PA and functional disability, sarcopenia and body composition (waist circumference, sagittal abdominal diameter, mass index, and body fat percentage). No significant relationship was observed between PA and nutritional status and psychosocial conditions. The relationship between the nutritional status and the variables of the psychosocial sphere was significant (P<.01). CONCLUSIONS: The characteristics of the population studied in the organic, functional, psychical, and social spheres do not suggest important limitations for PA. An insignificant percentage of the elderly does not perform enough PA. There is a significant relationship between physical exercise and favourable body composition rates.

[An epidemiological study on the alcohol consumption habits in an urban population]. / Estudio epidemiológico sobre los hábitos de consumo de alcohol en una población de carácter urbano.

OBJECTIVE: To quantify alcohol consumption in the town of Valls, differentiating working days from the week-ends, and to find the prevalence of excessive drinkers. DESIGN: Crossover observational study, with a population base. SETTING: Family and community medicine teaching centre of the Primary Care Clinic in Valls, a town with 20,004 inhabitants in the province of Tarragona. PARTICIPANTS: A random sample stratified by sex and age according to the municipal pattern (N = 327 people between 15 and 90). A home interview by the investigator, including a 24-hour record of alcohol consumption (discriminating between working days and the week-end). MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Males consumed an average of 23 gr of alcohol per working day and 42.9 gr of alcohol per week-end day (86.5% increase). Women consumed an average of 5.1 gr of alcohol per working day and 18.1 gr per week-end day (255% increase). The proportion of excessive drinkers (more than 60 gr per day in men and 40 gr per day in women) was 12.4% of men and 4.8% of women on working days; and 32.3% of men and 19.9% of women on week-end days. Consumption was significantly related to gender and age groups. CONCLUSIONS: A notable increase in alcohol consumption at the weekend was noted. This is occurring most of all at the expense of the young, who apparently now regularly consume alcohol according to an Anglo-Saxon type pattern.