A study on dietary transition among West Indian and South Indian women in urban Chennai

Pages: 1290-1294
Varalakshmi Rajam S. (Madras School of Economics, Chennai, Tamil Nadu)

The present study was carried out to study the nutrient intake and anthropometric measures of two different ethnic community women. 365 women in the age group of 30-45 years belonging to two different socio-cultural groups namely Tamil speaking or any of the other South Indian languages and those from Rajasthan primarily from the Marwari community and three different socio-economic groups of high, middle and low-income groups residing in Chennai were selected as samples for the study. Diet patterns of the subjects were assessed from the responses elucidated from the questionnaire including the meal patterns, snacking frequency, dining out frequency. 24-hour dietary recall method was adopted to assess the nutrient intake on a week day and a weekend day using standardized cups and measures. Dietcal software was employed to calculate the nutrient intake of the subjects during week days and weekends. Nutrient intakes were analyzed in terms of energy intake and macro nutrient intake Mean carbohydrate intakes are increased during weekends (346.19+26.33) compared to week days (360.71+27.38 ) among the West Indian community. A contrast picture is been observed among the south Indian community where the weekend intake is lesser than week day intake. Mean protein and fat intakes are higher over week ends in all the socio-economic groups and they are reflected in the mean energy intake over an increased rate during the week ends.