Purpose: The purpose of this research is to examine the changes of BMI, blood pressures, blood lipids and glucose of elderly in Taiwan using data from three cross-sectional surveys. Material and Methods: The first data set came from the National Survey of Health Conditions of Elderly in Taiwan, conducted between 1991 and 1992. The second data set was the Nutrition and Health Survey in Taiwan (NAHSIT: 1993-1996). The third data set was the 2nd wave of NAHSIT focusing on people older than 65 years, conducted in 1999. Results: The cohort effects of BMI of the elderly were negligible in the past ten years. But the age trend was noteworthy. BMI of males went from 23.7 for men aged between 65 and 74 to around 21.4 for men aged 85 or older. Similar pattern was found in females. The blood pressures differed significantly between the 1st and the 3rd survey in the younger age groups. For men aged between 65 and 74, the SBP was 140.3, 137.1 and 131.0 for the 1st, 2nd and 3rd survey respectively. That for women in the same age group was 145.2, 142.0 and 134.1 respectively. Similar patterns were found in DBP and glucose. The changes in blood lipids were trivial. These implied that the awareness of hypertension or diabetes have increased, thus they were better controlled. The role of education and social economic status cannot be ignored.
