Nutritional Profile and Socio-Economic Status of Saharia, a Primitive Tribe of India

Abstract

A study was conducted among Saharia, a primitive tribe of central India, with an objective to assess the nutritional profile and associated socio-economic factors. A cross sectional sample of 364 adult males and females aged 18-60 years was studied. Stature, body weight, skinfold thickness, circumferences, fat percent, grip strength and blood pressure were measured on each subject. Body mass index, Trunk extremity ratio and Grand mean thickness were computed statistically. A higher percentage of chronic energy deficient (CED) males and female subjects indicated a poor nutritional status of Saharias. A few overweight males were also found. More females were found to be undernourished than males as per the cut off values of MUAC. All the subjects were found to have normal blood pressure with the exception of a few hypertensive cases among males in overweight category. An influence of changing life style among Saharia males was more noticeable.