Anthropometric measures for CVD risk factors: An assessment based on South and West Indian women in Chennai

Pages: 966-971
Varalakshmi Rajam S. (Madras School of Economics, Ethiraj College, Chennai, Tamil Nadu)

Are the association Anthropometric Measures for CVD risk factors across different socio-economic groups residing in Chennai belonging to West India who follow a purely vegetarian diet and South India who have mix of vegetarian and non-vegetarian diet? A cross sectional study among West Indian and South Indian Women. 365 women had participated. Anthropometric measures such as height, weight, waist circumference and hip circumference were measured. Body mass index (BMI), waist to hip ratio (WHR), waist to height ratio (WHtR) were computed. Data entered in MS Excel Sheet and analysed by STATA Software. Data expressed as mean, standard deviation, and percentage. Tests applied were simple regressions analysis and correlation tests. Anthropometric parameters of mean body mass index indicated the prevalence of overweight among the study subjects (24.55+2.33, 23.54+1.55, 24.19+1.90, 23.53+1.81, 23.83+1.46) and a positive correlation seemed to exist between BMI and WHR significant at 1 percent and 5 percent level. Significant association do exist but are not strongly correlated. Associations also vary depending on the ethnicity of West Indian versus South Indian community or Low income versus high income/ middle income groups respectively. The results imply that anthropometric indicators of body mass index and waist to hip ratio seem to prove as best indicators of obesity among the study population.