Anthropometric and Physiological Assessment of Tribal Populations in West Bengal: Gender Differences and Health Implications
Soumya Sinha Roy, Prasenjit Chaudhuri, Soumendranath Chatterjee, Alak Kumar Syamal
The eastern Indian state of West Bengal is home to a variety of tribes that contribute to the state's cultural, linguistic, and genetic diversity. The aim of this study was to determine gender based differences in the anthropometric and physiological characteristics of the tribal populations in West Bengal and their implications for health and nutrition. This study included 310 participants (150 males, 160 females) from Santhal, Oraon, Munda, and Mahali tribes from seven districts of West Bengal during 2023–2024. Height, weight, waist circumference (WC), and hip circumference (HC) were measured. Indices of Body Mass Index (BMI), Waist-to-Hip Ratio (WHR), and Conicity Index (CI) have been calculated. Physiological parameters including body fat percentage, visceral fat percentage, blood pressure, glucose levels, or resting metabolic rate-have also been measured. Large differences between males and females were obtained in the results. Males had a higher average height (162.93 ± 7.09 cm vs. 153.61 ± 7.49 cm) and weight (61.04 ± 1.82 kg vs. 52.74 ± 1.57 kg) compared to females. BMI values were similar between genders (22.78 ± 3.66 for males and 22.37 ± 0.94 for females). Females exhibited significantly higher body fat percentages (29.84 ± 1.11%) compared to males (23.49 ± 6.23%), whereas males had greater visceral fat (7.30 ± 4.06% vs. 5.34 ± 0.11%). Blood pressure was elevated in males (126.57 ± 14.57 mmHg systolic, 81.70 ± 1.45 mmHg diastolic) compared to females (120.81 ± 5.33 mmHg systolic, 79.91 ± 1.23 mmHg diastolic). Glucose levels, both fasting and postprandial, showed a slightly higher values in males compared to females: 82.58 ± 2.70 mg/dL versus 80.83 ± 1.33 mg/dL fasting levels, and 124.55 ± 11.72 mg/dL versus 119.65 ± 1.03 mg/dL postprandial glucose levels. The findings highlight gender-based disparities in health and nutrition arising from genetic, cultural, and lifestyle factors. The work provides insight into the health status of tribal populations and underscores the imperative and necessity for selective intervention in regard to the emerging health risks in the course of urbanization and socio-economic transitions.