There is a lack of evidence-based information to assist health policy makers in preparing for appropriate health, nutrition, and social-support guidelines for the elderly in Bangladesh. We examined selected indicators of the nutritional status of elderly people attending the Dhaka Hospital of ICDDR,B, Dhaka, Bangladesh. The population constituted of 1,196 individuals (718 men and 478 women), aged 60 to 106 years, who attended the hospital between 1 January 1993 and 31 December 2003. Patients were recruited from a hospital-based systematic sampling, regardless of age and gender, that presented to the facility. Men were heavier, and taller than women were (p < 0.001 for both comparisons). Using MUAC cut-off of < 22 cm for females and < 23 cm for males, at least 50% of the elderly were peripherally wasted (malnourished). Among all the study population, 40% had a BMI within the optimal range (18.5-24.9 kg/m(2)). Using the chronic energy deficiency (CED) classification, at least half of elderly (> or= 60 year) women were chronic energy deficient (BMI < 18.5). A significantly higher proportion of elderly women (7%) compared to men (2%) were overweight (BMI > or = 25, p < 0.001). Among the elderly ( > or = 60 year), males and females from a higher socioeconomic status (SES) had significantly higher BMI (p < 0.001, p = 0.001, respectively) and MUAC values (p < 0.001, p < 0.001, respectively) than their less well-off SES counterparts. We consider that, although our data were not valid for assessing the country situation, they are still useful as baseline information for longitudinal studies and for highlighting the need for studies in other geographical locations and in other population groups.