Anthropometry and Twin Epidemic of Malnutrition among Urban Population of Varanasi

As life expectancies increase the major causes of death shift to the chronic and non communicable diseases, Indian population is increasingly facing modern risks due to overweight and obesity and other diet-related factors. As a result, people are facing a growing burden from the modern risks to health, while still fighting an unfinished battle with the traditional risks that results in dual burden of risks and diseases. This study aims at estimating the prevalence of under nutrition and over nutrition based on anthropometric indices. A community based cross-sectional study with multi-stage sampling design was conducted among urban population of Varanasi aged 25-64 years living in the selected area. A pre designed and pre tested proforma was used to collect the basic characteristics of 640 study subjects. Anthropometric measurements (height, weight, waist circumference and hip circumference) were recorded by following standard procedures. WHO International and Asia pacific guidelines for BMI were used to define Chronic Energy Deficiency (CED), overweight and obesity. Waist circumference and WHR for identifying abdominal obesity were defined by Indian guidelines. Mean height and weight of male subjects (n=301) were 167.5 ± 7.5 cm and 66.8 ± 12.5 kg, respectively and height and weight of female subjects (n=339) were 153.5 ± 6.01 cm and 57.6 ± 10.2 kg, respectively. Mean BMI was higher among female (24.4 ± 3.92 kg/m²) than male subjects (23.8 ± 3.95 kg/m²). The prevalence of CED, overweight and obesity were 8.6, 22.8 and 38.3% respectively by Asian classification and 8.6, 29.1 and 9.3% respectively by Global classification. The prevalence of thinness was higher among males, whereas prevalence of overweight and obesity was higher among females. Prevalence of abdominal obesity was higher among females as compared to their male counterparts.