Age-Specific and Sex-Specific Variations in Body Composition of Adults Belonging to the Rajbanshi Population of Darjeeling District, West Bengal, India

Abstract

Human body can be quantified at several levels depending on the clinical concerns. Body composition holds utmost importance in the study of nutritional status and health, especially among adult individuals. The present cross-sectional study was conducted among 450 adult individuals (aged 19-49 years) belonging to the Rajbanshi scheduled caste and residing near Siliguri town, Darjeeling district, West Bengal, India. Height and weight were measured using standard procedures. Percentages of subcutaneous fat and skeletal muscles (of whole body, trunk, arms and legs), body fat percentage and visceral fat percentages were measured using Omron Karada body fat analyzer. All the statistical analyses were performed using Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS version 23.0, SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL). Sexual dimorphism was observed in all variables denoting body composition. There are pronounced body-segmental differences in body composition variables between males and females. The mean values of all recorded variables were found to change significantly with an increase in age.

Keywords

• bio-impedance
• rajbanshi
• west bengal
• body composition
• adults