Aging is associated with increased risk of frailty and malnutrition. However, food insecurity has rarely been highlighted
in the elderly population, especially among the low income group. Thus, a cross-sectional study was conducted to
determine the association between nutritional status, food insecurity and frailty among elderly in low income residences
in Klang Valley. A total of 72 elderly individuals aged 60 years and above was selected (mean age 66 ± 6 years) through
convenient sampling. Participants were interviewed to obtain information on socio-demographic, health status, food
insecurity and cognitive status. Anthropometrics parameters and frailty assessments was measured using standard
criteria. Results showed that 75.0% of the participants had abdominal obesity. Nearly half of the participants were
overweight (41.7%), followed by normal (43.0%) and underweight (15.3%). With respect to food insecurity, most of them
reported that they had enough food (93.1%). There were significant correlation (p < 0.05) between food insecurity with
height (r = -0.263, p = 0.026). Most of the participants were pre-frail (58.3%), frail (27.8%) and followed by non-frail
(13.9%). Calcium intake is inversely associated with frailty (t = -2.62, p = 0.011). In conclusion, food insecurity was not
a problem, however, half of the subjects were overweight and pre-frail. Three out four subjects had abdominal obesity.
There is a need to investigate further the pathogenesis of fat frail in this low income elderly population and formulate
effective intervention strategies.