Somatotype Characteristics and Nutritional Status of Santal Aboorigine Females in India

Abstract

Introduction: Santal arethe aborigine people in India most of whom live in villages with poor economic status. The aim of the present study was to review the Somatotype characteristics along with nutritional status of Santal women from a remote village where proverty is the part of daily life. Methods: Fortyfive Santal females were selected randomly and Anthropometric measurements were measured following the international standards standardized by International Society for the Advancement of Kinanthropometry (ISAK). Heath-Carter method (1967) was followed to calculate Somatotype. BMI was calculated from height and weight. Results: Average somatotype of 3.6 (±1.2)-2.9 (±1.0)-2.5(±1.4) was observed for the studied Santal women. 20.6 % women were with underweight category wheas 71.4 % were in normal category observed. When categorized, muscularity component was in Low category in 35.7% women and the rest were in moderate category at lower end. Conclusion: Poverty is very common in Santal population in India who lives in remote villages which was reflected in low muscularity which may be due to less intake of required protein along with balanced diet. Societies or related organizations should come forward to improve the poor health condition with less muscularity.