A study on BMI among the Bhotia of Uttaranchal, India

Objective: To investigate the nutritional status of the males and females in two subgroups of\udthe Bhotia tribe (Marcha and Tolcha) inhabiting in three different altitudes in Uttaranchal, India.\udMethods: Data were collected from the Tolcha and Marcha, two sub-groups of the Bhotia,\udinhabiting in Chamoli district of Uttaranchal. Bhotia adults of both sexes were considered. Field\udinvestigation was conducted in three ecological zones (high, middle and low altitude) of the\uddistrict during April-August, in the years 2002-2004. Anthropometric measurements were obtained\udin accordance with the techniques recommended by Weiner and Lourie (1981). The variables like\udheight, weight, waist circumference, hip circumference, waist-hip ratio and blood pressure were\udstudied in relation to BMI. Results: Relatively higher value of mean BMI is recorded among the\udfemales than that of the males, which is true for different altitudes, in both subgroups. The BMI\udalso indicates an inverse relationship with altitude, except for the Tolcha males in high altitude.\udLowest mean BMI is recorded in middle altitude among the Tolcha subgroup. Chronic energy\uddeficient (CED) individuals are much more than twice the number among the males of both the\udsubgroups inhabiting in different altitudes. Interestingly, the percentage of CED individuals\udincreases with the altitude. Conclusions: Regression analysis indicates that height, weight,\udhip circumference and waist circumference are dependent on body mass index in the studied\udpopulations. Probable reason for poor nutrition status among the Tolcha and Marcha of high\udaltitude might be due to the fact that the Tolcha and Marcha of high altitude consume lesser\udamount of proteins, fat, milk and milk products in general than their counterpart inhabit in lower\udand middle altitude