RESEARCH JOURNAL OF FOOD SCIENCE AND NUTRITION
Integrity Research Journals
ISSN: 2536-7080
Model: Open Access/Peer Reviewed
DOI: 10.31248/RJFSN
Start Year: 2016
Email: rjfsn@integrityresjournals.org
A comparative study of the nutritional status of the elderly population residing in rural and urban communities in Benue State, Nigeria
https://doi.org/10.31248/RJFSN2026.224 | Article Number: FCC849E41 | Vol.11 (2) - April 2026
Received Date: 16 January 2026 | Accepted Date: 27 February 2026 | Published Date: 30 April 2026
Authors: Francisca Mlumun Gbeyonron* , Justina Ndirika Chikwendu and Jesse Fanen Ortswen
Keywords: nutritional status., urban, rural, Elderly, Mini Nutritional Assessment
Geriatric populations are vulnerable to malnutrition. The nutritional status of community-dwelling older adults was assessed using validated screening tools to enable early identification and prevention of malnutrition in this group. The study was carried out on the nutritional screening tests of the elderly aged 60 years and above. The design was a cross-sectional design involving 516 (60 to ≤ 80years), consisting of 293 rural and 223 urban home-dwelling elderly. Data were collected using a well-structured questionnaire containing demographic characteristics, anthropometric features, and Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) screening tool. Data were analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20.0. Mini Nutritional Assessment Status showed 64% elderly had normal and 34% were at risk of malnutrition. While Body Mass Index (BMI) showed 35.10% normal weight, 32.90% overweight, 27.90% obese and 4.10% underweight. Males (3.50%) were more malnourished than females (1.00%) as classified by MNA, while using BMI classification; females were underweight than males (5.90% and 2.90%), respectively. Among participants aged 80 years and older, only 4.10% were well-nourished (p < .001) using the BMI indicator. In conclusion, the elderly from the urban areas had normal nutrition status than those from rural areas, both using MNA and BMI tools (P< 0.001). This can guide specific interventions for at-risk elders in both settings.
| Achinihu, G. A., Mbah, C. A., & Obi-Anyanwu, J. N. (2016). Nutritional Assessment of Rural Farmers in Imo State, Nigeria; Implication for Health and Well-Being. International Journal of Advanced Academic Research| Arts, Humanities & Education 2(4), 7-18. | ||||
| Agarwalla, R., Saikia, A. M., & Baruah, R. (2015). Assessment of the nutritional status of the elderly and its correlates. Journal of Family and Community Medicine, 22(1), 39-43. https://doi.org/10.4103/2230-8229.149588 |
||||
| Alzahrani, S. H., & Alamri, S. H. (2017). Prevalence of malnutrition and associated factors among hospitalized elderly patients in King Abdulaziz University Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. BMC Geriatrics, 17, Article number 136. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-017-0527-z |
||||
| Boateng, N., & Jeptanui, N. (2016). Promoting healthy nutrition among the elderly living in a service home. Bachelor's thesis, Centria University of Applied Sciences Degree Programme in Nursing; 1-29p. | ||||
| Dent, E., Wright, O. R., Woo, J., & Hoogendijk, E. O. (2023). Malnutrition in older adults. The Lancet, 401(10380), 951-966. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(22)02612-5 |
||||
| Elia, M., & Stratton, R. J. (2012). An analytic appraisal of nutrition screening tools supported by original data with particular reference to age. Nutrition, 28(5), 477-494. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nut.2011.11.009 |
||||
| Fávaro-Moreira, N. C., Krausch-Hofmann, S., Matthys, C., Vereecken, C., Vanhauwaert, E., Declercq, A., Bekkering, G.E., & Duyck, J. (2016). Risk factors for malnutrition in older adults: a systematic review of the literature based on longitudinal data. Advances in Nutrition, 7(3), 507-522. https://doi.org/10.3945/an.115.011254 |
||||
| Ferede, Y. M., Derso, T., & Sisay, M. (2022). Prevalence of malnutrition and associated factors among older adults from urban and rural residences of Metu district, Southwest Ethiopia. BMC Nutrition, 8, Article number 52. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40795-022-00532-9 |
||||
| Gbeyonron, F. M., & Chikwendu, J. N. (2024). Food habits and micronutrient status of the elderly in rural and urban communities in North-East Senatorial Zone of Benue State, Nigeria. Asian Journal of Food Research and Nutrition, 3(1), 138-147. | ||||
| Kaya, P. (2015). Assessment of nutritional status of elderly individuals: a Mini-Nutritional Assessment. Progress in Nutrition, 17(4), 284-291. | ||||
| Khodabakhsh, S. (2022). Factors affecting life satisfaction of older adults in Asia: A systematic review. Journal of Happiness Studies, 23(3), 1289-1304. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-021-00433-x |
||||
| Kostecka, M., & Bojanowska, M. (2021). An evaluation of the nutritional status of elderly with the use of the MNA questionnaire and determination of factors contributing to malnutrition. A pilot study. Roczniki Państwowego Zakładu Higieny, 72(2), 175-183. https://doi.org/10.32394/rpzh.2021.0165 |
||||
| Kumari, U., Tripathi, K. M., Kumar, M., & Kumar, S. (2017). Nutritional status and dietary pattern in elderly population of Allahpur block in district Bijnor. South Asian Journal of Food Technology and Environment, 3(2), 562-567. https://doi.org/10.46370/sajfte.2017.v03i02.04 |
||||
| Kvamme, J. M., Grønli, O., Jacobsen, B. K., & Florholmen, J. (2015). Risk of malnutrition and zinc deficiency in community-living elderly men and women: the Tromsø Study. Public Health Nutrition, 18(11), 1907-1913. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1368980014002420 |
||||
| Lahiri, S., Biswas, A., Santra, S., & Lahiri, S. K. (2015). Assessment of nutritional status among elderly population in a rural area of West Bengal, India. International Journal of Medical Sciences and Public Health, 4(4), 569-572. https://doi.org/10.5455/ijmsph.2015.20122014117 |
||||
| Mohammed, F. R., & Abdulwahid, H. S. (2022). Assessment of old age nutritional status at geriatric home in Al-Diwaniyah City. Pakistan Journal of Medical & Health Sciences, 16(3), 1023-1025. https://doi.org/10.53350/pjmhs221631023 |
||||
| National Population Commission (2006). 2006 population and housing census of the Federal Republic of Nigeria: Priority tables (Vol. 1). Federal Republic of Nigeria. | ||||
| Nzeagwu, O. C., Iheme, G. O., & Nkuku, E. N. (2021). Anthropometric status and nutritional risks of older adults in Umuahia metropolis, Abia state Nigeria. Journal of Dietitians Association of Nigeria, 12, 22-29. https://doi.org/10.4314/jdan.v12i1.4 |
||||
| Oladoyinbo, C. A., Bamidele, A. B., Omoniyi, B. D., & Akinbule, O. O. (2021). Nutrient intake adequacy among older adults in rural communities of Obafemi Owode Local Government Area, Ogun State. Nigerian Journal of Nutritional Sciences, 42(1), 30-39. | ||||
| Onyeka, F. N., Eze, N. M., Ogbonna, K. P., & Osunka, E. C. (2022). Strategies for Enhancing Dietary Pattern and Nutrient Intake of the Elderly (60 Years) and Above in Idemili North Local Government Area, Anambra State, Nigeria. International Journal of Home Economics, Hospitality and Allied Research, 1(1), 69-77. | ||||
| Peña-Portillo, G. (2022). The Human Senses and Elderly. Medicon Nutritional Health, 1, 20-28. | ||||
| Saeidlou, S. N., Merdol, T. K., Mikaili, P., & Bektaş, Y. (2011). Assessment of the nutritional status and affecting factors of elderly people living at six nursing home in Urmia, Iran. International Journal of Academic Research, 3(1)3, 173-181. | ||||
| Smith, L. O. (2023). Clinical malnutrition in adults: Assessment and implications [Doctoral dissertation, University of Delaware. | ||||
| Sukkriang, N., & Somrak, K. (2021). Correlation between mini nutritional assessment and anthropometric measurements among community-dwelling elderly individuals in rural Southern Thailand. Journal of Multidisciplinary Healthcare, 14, 1509-1520. https://doi.org/10.2147/JMDH.S315652 |
||||
| Vellas, B., Villars, H., Abellan, G., Soto, M. E., Rolland, Y., Guigoz, Y., Morley, J. E., Chumlea, W., Salva, A., Rubenstein, L. Z., & Garry, P. (2006). Overview of the MNA®-Its history and challenges. Journal of Nutrition Health and Ageing, 10(6), 456-465. | ||||
| Volkert, D., Beck, A. M., Cederholm, T., Cruz-Jentoft, A., Hooper, L., Kiesswetter, E., Maggio, M., Raynaud-Simon, A., Sieber, C., Sobotka, L., & Bischoff, S. C. (2022). ESPEN practical guideline: Clinical nutrition and hydration in geriatrics. Clinical Nutrition, 41(4), 958-989. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clnu.2022.01.024 |
||||
Copyright © 2026 Integrity Research Journals. All rights reserved.