The influence of social engagement and dining location on nutritional intake and body mass index was evaluated for 40 nursing home residents aged 80-85 years. Four-days' dietary records were used to assess the intake of energy and micronutrients. A higher prevalence of underweight (BMI < 20) was found among residents with low level of social engagement (67% vs. 11%, p < 0.05) or dining in their own room (62% vs. 19%, p < 0.05) compared to the others. No differences in prevalence of insufficient intakes of energy and micronutrients were observed between groups. In general the intake of energy and micronutrients was low. Hence, more attention should be given to what is served and consumed by nursing home residents rather than to where they eat or their level of social engagement.
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Beck et al. (2003) studied this question.
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