Since the inclusion criteria in the present study excluded subjects with moderate, severe or uncontrolled illnesses, malnutrition and immobility, their general health conditions were thought to be healthy and stable. Comparative study with regard to co-morbidity between the new elder citizen and the ordinary Japanese population of the elderly previously reported elsewhere ⁵⁾, clearly showed lower co-morbidities concerning cerebrovascular accidents, ischemic heart diseases, hypertension, diabetes mellitus in the former than in the latter. Beside that, height and weight of both genders in the new elder citizen were taller and heavier than in the ordinary Japanese population, and heights in both genders were almost identical to those for the ordinary Taiwanese ⁶⁾. Weight in both genders, however, were obviously heavier in the latter than in the former, and as the result, BMI in both genders were larger in the latter than in the former. In summary, the general statue of the new elder citizen is thought to be ideal in the view point of healthiness.

　

　

　

　

　It is obviously true in clinical practice and epidemiological survey that anthropometric standards derived from adult populations are not appropriate for the elderly, because of body composition changes occurring during aging, and therefore, specific reference data for the elderly are necessary ^6-9). In the present study, we investigated anthropometric characteristics and their relationship to gender and age in the cross-sectional sample of 209 subjects voluntarily joined to this study project. Since the subjects were functionally free from physical or psychosocial restrains as described above, variables thus obtained might not reveal a traditional average standard, but are rather thought to be one of the representatives for healthiness of the elderly.

　

　Anthropometric characteristics are related to genetic, environmental, lifestyle, socio-cultural conditions, health and functional status, and therefore, they are essential tools in geriatric nutritional assessment. Although accurate evaluation of nutritional status could be determined by instrumental methods such as bioelectrical impedance analysis and dual x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA), in clinical practice and epidemiological survey, however, anthropometric measurements can be non-invasive, easy and inexpensively performed with reasonable accuracy and reliability. The ageing process involves modifications in nutritional and physiological status, and a reduction in fat-free mass associated with an increase in fat mass¹⁰⁾. Such body composition changes occur differently in males and females, and also in different phases of ageing. In the present study, therefore, we mainly focused the anthropometric survey on the age and gender differences.

　

　Since the study subject was limited within the narrow range of ages, anthropometric variables were compared between septuagenarians and octo-/nonagenarians. The male subject revealed age differences with regard to weight, triceps circumference and mid thigh circumference, while the female subject only revealed difference in height. In general, age-dependent changes were relatively subtle in both genders.

　Concerning gender differences, anthropometric measurements clearly revealed significant differences in body composition; the male is muscular, while the female is fatty. These differences were also confirmed with such functional and metabolic consequences as handgrip force, walking speed in the former and resting metabolic rate in the latter. Creatinine level was another evidence for these differences, and it was higher in the male than in the female.

　

　In summary, older adults, classified as persons aged 65 years and older are the fast-growing segments of the population in Japan. This group is heterogeneous and inter-individual biological variation is large because of variable rates of aging among persons, or even within a person in the sense of organ and tissue senescence. In the present study, subjects voluntarily joined to this study program were still active and productive in daily life and the status of their health was quite stable and well controlled, although they were not entirely free from illnesses. The present study demonstrated standards for anthropometric measurements that might be useful for the clinical and epidemiological assessment in general health condition, particularly in nutritional health. This study also clearly confirmed the gender difference in this age segment. The anthropometric characteristics demonstrated here might also valuable to evaluate the frailty or vulnerability often encountered in the elderly population. Further accumulation of the data is mandatory to improve its clinical and epidemiological utilities.