Body Composition and Its Determinants among Nepali Speaking Adult Males of West Bengal, India
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.34256/ijk2532Keywords:
Body composition, Body fat percentage, Visceral fat percentage, Sociodemographic and lifestyle factorsAbstract
Introduction: Body composition assessment plays a crucial role in evaluating health risks associated with excess or inadequate body fat. The determination of body composition is a common practice for evaluating health and nutritional status. In modern times, analyzing body composition has become vital for understanding nutritional health, disease risks, and overall well-being. Methods: This cross-sectional study examines age-specific variations in body composition and the influence of socio-demographic and lifestyle factors among 284 adult male tea estate workers (aged 18–59 years) from the Jorebunglow Sukhiapokhari block, Darjeeling district, West Bengal, India. Anthropometric and body composition parameters, including height, weight, BMI, body fat percentage, subcutaneous fat percentage, visceral fat percentage, and skeletal muscle percentage, were measured for the present report using the Omron Karada Scan HBF-514C Body Fat Analyzer. One-way ANOVA with post hoc Scheffé tests was applied to assess age-related differences of various body composition variables. Results: The results indicate significant age-associated increases in body fat and visceral fat percentages, alongside a progressive decline in skeletal muscle percentage. BMI and body fat percentage peaked in the 30–39 years age group before declining in older participants. Correlation analysis revealed positive associations between age and fat parameters, whereas skeletal muscle percentage showed a strong negative correlation with age. Socio-demographic and lifestyle factors, including physical activity, housing conditions, alcohol and tobacco consumption, were significantly linked to body composition. Individuals who engaging in regular physical activity exhibited lower body fat and visceral fat percentages. Additionally, obesity showed a strong association with increased fat accumulation in older age group. Conclusion: These findings highlight the progressive impact of aging on body composition and underscore the role of lifestyle factors in modulating health risks among tea estate workers.
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