Índice de alimentación saludable y su relación con el índice de masa corporal en los estudiantes de la universidad de los mayores de la universidad autónoma de Yucatán.

Abstract Introduction: There is a growing concern for the health of older adults around the world and, of course, in our country, because this population is increasingly facing health problems, especially with chronic degenerative diseases such as diabetes, obesity and overweight, to name a few. Since diet is a key factor in health and nutritional status, it is important to investigate the relationship between food quality and nutritional status. Objective: To determine the healthy eating index and its relationship with the body mass index of students at the University for Seniors at UADY. Material and methods: Quantitative and cross-sectional study. A total of 84 older adults were studied. A parametric Pearson correlation statistical model was used for the analysis and relationship of the variables. Results: 11.9% consume a healthy diet, 79.8% need changes in their diet and 8.3% have an unhealthy diet. In addition, 56% of older adults were overweight or obese, with this situation being higher in men (66.7%) than in women (53.7%), 38% had normal weight and 6% were underweight. The correlation between the healthy eating index and the body mass index was found to be weak inverse, although statistically significant. Conclusion: The study shows that due to the high proportion of older adults who require changes in their diet and considering that the relationship between the IAS and the BMI was significant, it is suggested the need to design and implement strategies that promote a healthier diet in this population group. Keywords: Healthy eating index, body mass index, older adult, food consumption frequency.