2287 Residents with dementia had an increase in BMI after the introduction of an extra meal in nursing homes in Norway

Abstract Introduction The past decade, many nursing homes in Norway have introduced an extra meal daily, with a hot lunch, and pushing dinner to later in the day. This initiative aims to reduce the long-time interval between breakfast and supper. This study examines how an extra meal affects the residents’ body mass index (BMI) at nursing homes in Norway. Research questions include how an extra meal affects BMI among residents in the dementia unit. Method We used a cross-sectional design to analyse data from residents over 65 years old in dementia care units. Both parametric and non-parametric statistical tests were used to evaluate changes in BMI. Results The results of the study show that the dementia unit experienced an increase in BMI following the introduction of an extra meal. At most, we saw a weight gain of up to 7 kg over two years among residents. Our study reveals that the introduction of an extra meal resulted in a slight increase in BMI among the residents with dementia, which does not correspond with previous studies indicating malnutrition among these residents. The dementia disease reduces functional abilities, and challenges related to mealtime behaviour, restlessness, and depression can lead to weight loss. The fact that our results show a slight increase in BMI at the dementia units may be related to these residents often being troubled with restlessness and not finding the peace to consume a full meal. By introducing an extra meal, the total food intake increases since residents still eat a little at each meal, and focusing more on accommodating each resident might have influenced the increase in BMI values. Conclusion The study indicates that the introduction of an extra meal has a positive effect on the BMI value of residents with dementia in nursing homes.