Age related changes in weight, height and body mass index of Brahmin females: A rural-urban comparison

Abstract

The present study is an attempt to analyse and compare age related changes in weight, height, and body mass index of rural and urban Brahmin females and also to estimate the prevalence of underweight and overweight in this population. Both the rural as well as urban Brahmin females showed a decline in the mean values of weight and height with advancing age. The comparison suggested that urban Brahmin females were taller and heavier than their rural counterparts at all age groups except for 40-45 years and 46-50 years, where rural females were found to be heavier than the urban females. Rural Brahmin females exhibit slightly higher mean values for body mass index as compared to urban females uptill 55years, whereafter urban females take a lead. According to BMI values, the overall prevalence of underweight was higher among rural Brahmin subjects (11.76%) than the urban Brahmin females (1.65%).Whereas urban Brahmin females exhibit higher overall prevalence for overweight (45.58%) than their rural counterparts (39.32%).