Abstract
Somatotype is the parameter used to determine the body composition, which is influenced by several factors and nutrition is the crucial one. This study aimed to determine somatotype and nutritional status as well as investigate the somatotype variations in relation to the age and nutritional status among the adult males of Sabar community living in Purulia district of West Bengal, India. The present cross-sectional study included 334 Sabar males aged between 18 to 60 years. Anthropometric measurements including height, weight, 2 breadths, 2 circumferences and 4 skinfolds were taken following standard protocol. Somatotype was determined following the Heath-Carter method and Body Mass Index (BMI) was used to access the level of nutrition. Descriptive statistics, Kruskal-Wallis H test, Pearson correlation, Spearman correlation and Chi-square test were performed to find out variation, correlation and association of the somatype components with age and nutritional categories. Prior ethical clearance had been obtained. As a result, the trend of undernutrition was gradually increasing with age and found highest among aged people (50–60 years) with an overall prevalence of 49.7%. Eleven different somatotype subgroups were identified. The mean somatotype of the participants was 2.3–3.6-3.9 which indicates mesomorph-ectomorph body type. Kruskal-Wallis H test revealed significant differences among somatotype components in different nutritional categories. Undernutrition was found highest among the mesomorphic ectomorph (62.7%) type. Chi-square test stated significant association between somatotype categories and nutritional statuses (Chi-square = 283.160, p < 0.01). This is the first reporting on the somatotype study among the Sabar community, where the dominant body type was found mesomorph-ectomorph. A highly significant correlation was found between somatotype and BMI. At the same time, this study expressed the need for immediate nutritional intervention.
Highlights
Nowadays, millions of people throughout the world are suffering from different forms of malnutrition
Xavier’s College (Autonomous), Kolkata, India 4 Department of Anthropology, University of Calcutta, Kolkata, India stated significant association between somatotype categories and nutritional statuses (Chi-square = 283.160, p < 0.01). This is the first reporting on the somatotype study among the Sabar community, where the dominant body type was found mesomorph-ectomorph
Researchers claim that the study of human health based on Body Mass Index (BMI) is not always sufficient enough to generate a holistic insight of nutritional status as it is not regarded as an adequate alternative for somatotype (Genovese 2009)
Summary
Millions of people throughout the world are suffering from different forms of malnutrition. Sheldonian classification of somatotype is a method of description and quantification of the human body on three shape and composition scales: endomorphy (relative fatness characterised by the rounded shoulder, broad face, short neck, rounded physique), mesomorphy (relative musculoskeletal robustness with broad shoulder and chest, firm limbs), and ectomorphy (relative linearity as visibly slim physique, narrow and flat chest, long limbs) which was later modified by Heath and Carter (Sheldon et al 1940; Heath and Carter 1967; Carter and Heath 1990) The latter form of classification known as the anthropometric somatotype method has proven to be more useful in various fields in growth and ageing, body image, sports profiling etc. The latter form of classification known as the anthropometric somatotype method has proven to be more useful in various fields in growth and ageing, body image, sports profiling etc. (Carter et al 1983; Brukner and Bennell 2008; Hume and Ackland 2017)
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