Nutritional status of adults among Munda and Pod populations in a peri urban area of Kolkata City, India

A cross sectional study on 387 Munda and 317 Pod adult males and females was conducted in the peri urban region of Kolkata city, India, to assess their health status. Chronic Energy Deficiency (CED) was calculated from the Body Mass Index (BMI) and seven anthropometric measurements were considered for this study. Significantly higher CED was observed among the Munda males and females. Higher percentage of CED was noticed among the females than the male Munda. Linear regression coefficient (b standard error) of BMI on age and anthropometric measurements revealed significant decrease in BMI with increase in age among Munda males and females as well as Pod females. All other measurements more or less increased with increase in BMI. Thus, both intra- and inter-ethnic health differences were observed between and among the two socio-economically backward populations. Higher gender differentials were found among the Munda and this needs an immediate attention of the government to overcome the health inequality at regional level.