Age-Related Anthropometric Changes and Undernutrition among Middle Aged and Older Savar Tribal Females of Keonjhar District, Orissa, India

A cross sectional study of 113 Savar tribal women of four villages of Keonjhar District, Orissa, India, was undertaken to examine age changes in anthropometric and body composition characteristics as well as to evaluate their nutritional status. Height, weight, circumferences and skinfolds data collected from subjects aged 41-75 years, along with body mass index and seven body composition variables. Significant negative age trends were observed for all anthropometric and body composition variables and indices. Correlation studies of age with these variables and indices revealed significant negative correlations. Linear regression analyses revealed that for all variables, age had a significant negative impact. Studies on the nutritional status of Savar women revealed that 53.1% belonged to the undernutrition category. In conclusion, this study showed that among these women, age was significantly negatively related with anthropometric and body composition variables and indices. Undernutrition was a serious problem in this group. cteristics and nutritional status of tribal populations of India (Bisai et al. 2008; Bose and Chakraborty 2005; Bose et al. 2006; 2007). The proportion of older people in developing countries remains smaller than in industrialized countries, but is increasing (Dandekar 1996; Zverev and Chisi 2004). A significant proportion of the Indian population is aged (Dandekar 1996; Ghosh et al. 2001; Kinsella and Suzman 1992). The tribes of India comprise about 8% of the total population of the country having probably the largest number of tribal communities in the world (Topal and Samal 2001). They are categorized as 698 tribal populations, of which 75 are primitive tribal groups (PTGs). Savars are one such PTG whose mother tongue is Savar, an Austro-Asiatic language. They are inhabitants of four eastern provinces of India: Bihar, Jharkhand, Orissa and West Bengal. The majority of the Savars in Orissa are found in the districts of Cuttack, Dhenkanal, Ganjam and Keonjhar. They are also known as Saura, Saora and Sahara in different provinces of India (Mandal et al. 2002). The present study was undertaken to examine patterns associated with age in anthropometric and body composition indicators as well as to evaluate the nutritional status among middle aged and older Savar tribal females of Keonjhar District, Orissa, India. Address for Correspondence: