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Vol. 6 No. 2 (2026): Volume 6, Issue 2, Year 2026

Articles

Somatotype Variations in a High-Altitude Environment: a Cross-Sectional Study among Young Himalayan Populations in Ladakh, India

  • Abhijit Bhuin,
  • Shivanshi Nehria,
  • Diskit Wangmo,
  • Kalyan Prasad Mahato,
  • Samiran Bisai
Abhijit Bhuin
Department of Anthropology & Tribal Studies, Public Health Nutrition Research Unit, Sidho-Kanho-Birsha University, Purulia, West Bengal, India.
Shivanshi Nehria
Department of Anthropology, Eliezer Joldan Memorial College, Leh, Ladakh, India.
Diskit Wangmo
Department of Anthropology, Eliezer Joldan Memorial College, Leh, Ladakh, India.
Kalyan Prasad Mahato
Department of Anthropology & Tribal Studies, Public Health Nutrition Research Unit, Sidho-Kanho-Birsha University, Purulia, West Bengal, India.
Samiran Bisai
Department of Anthropology & Tribal Studies, Public Health Nutrition Research Unit, Sidho-Kanho-Birsha University, Purulia, West Bengal, India.
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.34256/ijk2623

Published 17-08-2026

Keywords

  • Somatotype,
  • Endomorphy,
  • Mesomorphy,
  • Ectomorphy,
  • High-altitude

How to Cite

Bhuin, A., Nehria, S., Wangmo, D., Mahato, K. P., & Bisai, S. (2026). Somatotype Variations in a High-Altitude Environment: a Cross-Sectional Study among Young Himalayan Populations in Ladakh, India. International Journal of Kinanthropometry, 6(2), 18–27. https://doi.org/10.34256/ijk2623

Copyright (c) 2026 Abhijit Bhuin, Shivanshi Nehria, Diskit Wangmo, Kalyan Prasad Mahato, Samiran Bisai

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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Abstract

Introduction: Somatotyping is a globally used standard method that provides a quantitative morphological representation of an individual. This technique is widely used to understand human biological variation and to make meaningful comparisons of human physique across different ethnic groups, sexes, and age groups. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out among the native highlanders residing in Leh, Ladakh, India. All the required anthropometric measurements were taken by a trained anthropometrist. Somatotype assessment was performed by using Heath and Carter standard somatotype methods. Results: In this study the mean somatotype of the study population (both male and female) was 3.5-2.7-3.2. The present data disclosed statistically significant differences in endomorphy (χ2 = 15.43, p <0.001) and ectomorphy (χ2 = 7.94, p <0.05) but no significant difference in mesomorphy across different age group categories. Females had relatively higher endomorphy whereas mean ectomorphy was higher among male participants. Total 13 somatotype categories were recognized, the majority of the participants showed balanced ectomorph (13.30%) followed by ectomorphic endomorph (12.0%) and mesomorphic endomorph (12.0%). The presence of all somatotype categories indicates somatotype diversity in the study population. A large section showed low and moderate relative categories for all the three components. Conclusion: the present study highlights the diversity of somatotype components among high-altitude Ladakhi adolescents and young adults, that will help researchers to understand the somatotype patterns and human biological variation during adolescence and early adulthood at a high-altitude environment.

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