Somatotype of Santal Tribal Women of West Bengal in India

Abstract

Sixty-four Santal tribal women from Paschim Medinipur district, West Bengal, India, were studied for their somatotype. The studied women were with an average age of 32.5 ± 11.6 years with a wide age range of 16–70. Average height was 150.2 (±5.2) cm. Heath–Carter method (1967) was followed for somatotyping. Average somatotype of the studied Santal women was 3.9 (±1.5) – 4.1 (1.1) – 2.9 ± (1.7). A total of 16–20 year age group had an average somatotype of 3.7 (±1.0) – 3.3 (±0.7) – 3.4 (±1.5), whereas that of 21–30 had an average somatotype of 3.4 (±1.2) – 3.7 (±1.0) – 3.9 (±1.5). A total of 31–40 year age group were more mesomorphic with an average somatotype of 4.4 (±1.6) – 4.4 (±1.2) – 2.1 (±1.7). Mesomorphy component increased as the Santal women grew up. The women from age group 41 to 50 year had an average somatotype of 4.0 (±1.6) – 4.6 (±1.1) – 1.9 (±1.3), whereas that of older women of 51–70 year age group were more mesomorphic with an average value of 5.0 (±1.9) – 5.1 (±0.7) – 1.7 (±0.7). Thus, muscularity of the Santal women increased as age increased. This was due to their changed lifestyle from young age to older age where older had to do more physical work than the young adults. Thus, well-built muscular body type of Santal women was an adaptation for hard physical work for survival.