Sex and age-related variability in anthropometry, nutritional status, abdominal obesity, and cardiovascular risk among older adults of Havana

Sex- and age-related variability in anthropometry, nutritional status, abdominal obesity, and cardiovascular risk (CVR) was explored in 320 adults aged ≥ 60 years of Havana. Height, weight, waist, and body mass index (BMI) were measured. Nutritional status was evaluated using World Health Organization (WHO) criteria, while abdominal obesity and CVR were determined following Canadian guidelines for weight classification (GWC). Mean values were 163.1 ± 11.6 cm for height, 69.8 ± 17.4 kg for weight, 85.6 ± 13.2 cm for waist, and 26.1 ± 5.2 kg/m² for BMI. All measurements were higher in males and tended to decline with increasing age in both sexes. Prevalence values were 9% for underweight, 61.3% for overweight, 22.8% for abdominal obesity and 73.5% for CVR. Underweight was more prevalent in females and participants aged ≥ 80 years. Overweight was more common in males but similar across age groups. Abdominal obesity was more prevalent in females and in the 60-79 years cohort, but severe CVR was more frequent in males aged ≥ 80 years. These findings indicate that both sex and age impact anthropometric characteristics, nutritional status, abdominal obesity, and CVR in older adults of Havana and should be considered in developing public health policies.