Raja Chakraborty

Relationship of family income and house type to body mass index and chronic energy deficiency among urban Bengalee male slum dwellers of Kolkata, India

A cross-sectional study of 469 adult (>18 years) Bengalee male slum dwellers of Dum Dum, Kolkata, India, was undertaken to study the relationships of family income and house type with body mass index (BMI) and chronic energy deficiency. The overall frequency of chronic energy deficiency was 32.0%. Based on the World Health Organization classification, the prevalence of chronic energy deficiency among this population was high and thus the situation is serious. Overall, monthly family income was significantly positively correlated with BMI. Significant differences in mean weight, BMI and monthly family income, were observed between the two house type groups. All values were found to be significantly higher in the brick household group who also earned a comparatively higher income as evident from the mean monthly family income values. The prevalence of chronic energy deficiency was also found to be significantly higher in the bamboo-fenced household group. Subjects belonging to the lowest family income group had the lowest mean BMI and the highest rate of chronic energy deficiency while those in the highest family income group had the largest mean BMI and lowest rate of chronic energy deficiency. There was a significant family income group difference in mean BMI. There existed significant differences in chronic energy deficiency rates in family income group categories. Linear regression analyses showed that monthly family income and house type had a significant impact on BMI. Subsequent multiple regression analyses revealed that both monthly family income and house type had a significant impact on BMI, even after controlling for each other.

Waist circumference in determining obesity and hypertension among 18-60 years old Bengalee Hindu male slum dwellers in Eastern India.

Background: Waist circumference (WC) has been previously shown to be the most efficient measure to explain variability in body mass index (BMI) and percentage body fat (PBF) in Bengalee males, including those under study. Aim: The objective was to evaluate the relative usefulness of WC and its single suitable value, if any, to identify both generalized obesity and hypertension in Bengalee men. Subjects and methods: This cross-sectional study included 433 adult (18–60 years) Bengalee Hindu slum dwelling men. Height, weight, waist circumference, systolic (SBP) and diastolic (DBP) blood pressures were measured. BMI was computed as weight (in kg) divided by height (in metres) squared. Hypertension (HT) was defined as SBP ≥ 140 mmHg and/or DBP ≥ 90 mmHg. A BMI ≥ 23 kg/m2 and ≥ 25 kg/m2 were considered overweight and obesity, respectively. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses were employed to determine the best cut-off points to define HT and overweight. Results: Prevalence of HT, overweight and obesity were 17.6% and 20.1% and 8.3%, respectively. Prevalence of central obesity using the cut-offs of 102 cm, 90 cm and 80 cm were 0.46%, 5.08% and 24.7%, respectively. Both in obese and non-obese, WC ≥ 80 cm was significantly associated with higher SBP and DBP than WC < 80 cm. WC>79.4 cm and>80.3 cm were the most appropriate for detecting HT and overweight status. Conclusion: WC value of ∼80 cm could efficiently discriminate both obesity and hypertension among the Bengalee Hindu slum dwelling men aged between 18–60 years. Central obesity, determined by WC ≥ 80 cm, was associated with increased blood pressure and higher risk of HT, independent of age and general obesity.

Central Adiposity, Body Mass Index and Percent Body Fat among Bengalee Hindu Male Slum Dwellers of Dum Dum, West Bengal, India

The relationship between body mass index (BMI) and percent body fat (PBF) with central adiposity measures varies between ethnic groups and it has not been much studied in low socio-economic groups in India. Therefore, this study was undertaken to test the relative efficacy of waist circumference (WC), hip circumference (HC), waist hip ratio (WHR) and conicity index (CI) to predict BMI and PBF among Bengalee Hindu male slum dwellers. A total of 465 adult (aged 18-72 years) male slum dwellers of Bengalee Hindu ethnicity were included. Standard anthropometric techniques and formulae were used. WC showed the strongest significant (p < 0.001) partial correlation with BMI and PBF (0.82 and 0.77, respectively). Stepwise multiple linear regression analyses of BMI and PBF with the central adiposity measures revealed that WC had the strongest impact on BMI and PBF. On the other hand WHR, HC and CI had weaker effect. Moreover, WC alone accounted for about 67 and 60 per cent of the variations, respectively, of BMI and PBF. The models involving only WC and CI, explained almost similar proportions of variations (adjR 2 = 94.1, and 69.4, respectively). Furthermore, the WC was found to best predict BMI (R 2 Change = 0.666; F Change = 921.32, p < 0.001) and PBF (R 2 Change = 0.597; F Change = 686.66, p < 0.001). Even after controlling for each other, i.e., BMI and PBF (results not shown) WC had the strongest significant impact on these two measures. Therefore, in this population, WC may be preferred over other measures of central adiposity in studies dealing with obesity and cardio vascular disease risk factors.

Body mass index and body fat among adult Bengalee male slum dwellers in West Bengal, India

SUMMARY OBJECTIVE The objective of the study is to explore the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and percent body fat (PBF) in relation to hypertension among adult Bengalee males of low socio-economic status living in a slum area of West Bengal, India. METHODS A cross-sectional survey was carried on 436 males aged 18-60 years in a slum area called Bidhan Colony, which is approximately 15 km from Kolkata city. Data on anthropometric measurements and blood pressure were collected, following standard techniques. Logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis were used for testing the relationship between BMI and PBF relative to hypertension. RESULTS About 4.25% and 50% of the normal (BMI 18.5-22.9 kg/m(2)) and overweight (BMI 23.0-24.9 kg/m(2)) subjects, respectively, were obese according to the PBF cut-off point of >25%. The ROC curve analysis indicated that the BMI cut-off ≥23 kg/m(2) was appropriate for detecting obesity relative to hypertension. It was observed that the prevalence of hypertension increased significantly with age (r = 0.226, p < 0.001). Adjusting for age, the subjects with BMI 23-24.99 kg/m(2) had about 3.2 times (95% CI: 1.61-6.27) greater risk of hypertension than those with BMI < 23 kg/m(2), and the risk for those with BMI ≥ 25 kg/m(2) was about 4.5 times (95% CI: 2.06-9.57). As for PBF, the risk of hypertension was about 2.6 times (95% CI: 1.38-4.80) for the subjects with PBF > 25% compared to those with PBF ≤ 25%. CONCLUSIONS Our study validated the BMI cut-off point proposed by the WHO for Asia-Pacific populations for screening the individuals who are likely at risk of overweight. However, such data should be substantiated by independent risks of adverse health outcomes that need for public health intervention.

Mid-upper arm circumference as a measure of nutritional status among adult Bengalee male slum dwellers of Kolkata, India: relationship with self reported morbidity.

This cross-sectional study was undertaken to investigate the relationship of mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) with body mass index (BMI) and the self reported morbidity status. This was to assess the reliability of MUAC as a measure of nutritional and overall physical health status among the adult (> 18 years) Bengalee male slum dwellers of Kolkata, (India). Data on height, weight, MUAC and self reported morbidity were analysed for 474 individuals. The BMI was computed following the standard formula. Classification of chronic energy deficiency (CED) was done following the WHO guidelines. The mean (sd) age, height, weight, BMI and MUAC were 37.5 (14.2), 161.5 (6.2), 53.0 (9.5), 20.3 (kg/m2 and 25.0 cm, respectively. The mean BMI decreased significantly (F = 243.0; p < 0.001) from the highest MUAC group (22.5 kg/m2) to the lowest one (17.1 kg/m2). Overall prevalence of CED (BMI < 18.5 kg/m2) was 32.3%. The prevalence of CED also increased sharply from the highest MUAC group (3.0%) to the lowest group (84.2%) (X2 = 237.8; p < 0.001). The odds ratios (OR) for being CED is very much high in the lowest MUAC group (OR = 178.70, CI = 71.37-447.46). A significant (X2 = 19.168, p < 0.001) increase in the prevalence of self reported illness from the highest MUAC group (19%) to the lowest one (40.4%, OR = 2.78; CI = 1.68-4.62) was also observed. The mean MUAC was observed to decrease significantly (F = 7.157, p < 0.001) from non-ill group (G IV) to the group which reported to have both previous and recent illness (G I). The prevalence of undernourished (MUAC < 23.0 cm) also increased significantly (X2 = 21.54, p < 0.001) from G IV to thee G I. In conclusion, the MUAC can be used as an efficient alternative measurement in the evaluation of CED status among adult Bengalee males.

Second to fourth digits ratio (2D:4D) and subjective pain experience in tattooing

Abstract This aims of this research are to determine if the 2D:4D digit ratio is related to subjective pain experience during tattooing and to examine gender differences therein. The study involved 43 male and 28 female Polish adults recruited from two tattoo salons in Wroclaw and Leszno in Western Poland. These subjects were asked if they felt pain during their tattooing and answers were recorded as ‘Yes’ or ‘No’. The ventral surface lengths of the second and fourth digits of each hand were measured, and analysis of variance was performed to assess significant differences in the 2D:4D ratios of right and left hands and twohand averages between genders and the Yes/ No groups reporting pain experience. Results revealed that although the digit ratios for females had systematically higher values than those in males, differences were not statistically significant. Both sex and subjective pain feeling were significantly associated with 2D:4D ratio in both hands and their average values, while sex and pain experience were independently associated with digit ratio. Subjects who felt pain during tattooing had a significantly lower digit ratio. In conclusion, the study did not support the hypothesis that the lower masculine 2D:4D ratio is associated with a higher pain threshold. Prenatal sex hormonal exposure generating the gender dimorphic 2D:4D index may not predispose the actual feeling of all kinds of pain; in this instance, not in pain associated with tattooing.

Relative fat distribution in relation to menarcheal status among Bengalee Hindu girls of West Bengal, India.

Background: Menarche seems be related to the relative distribution rather than the total amount of body fat. Previous studies showed that the ratio between lower-body vs. upper-body fat was associated with the timing of menarche. Aim: To compare the relative distribution of subcutaneous fat among Bengali Hindu pre- and post-menarcheal girls. Materials and Methods: The participants were 234 Bengali Hindu girls aged 11-14 years: 111 pre-menarcheal and 123 post-menarcheal girls, randomly selected from a secondary school from a suburb of Kolkata, West Bengal, India. Triceps, abdominal, sub-scapular, and calf skinfolds were measured. For each skinfold site, ratio was calculated as follows: Log (one skinfold/sum of skinfolds). Principal components (PC) analysis was performed to derive components which express the maximum contrast among the log of ratios. T-test was employed to assess differences between individual scores of components between pre- and post-menarcheal girls. Results: The three identified PC suggested extremities-trunk, lower trunk-upper trunk, and an upper extremity-lower extremity contrasts, respectively. Scores for second and third components showed significant differences between pre- and post-menarcheal groups of girls. Conclusion: The attainment of menarche by Bengali girls aged 11-14 years was associated with characteristically more relative subcutaneous fat distribution in the upper trunk and in the lower limbs, in contrast to lower trunk and upper limbs, respectively.

Sibling Composition and Household Room Sharing are Associated with Menarcheal Status among Rural Bengalee Girls of West Bengal, India

Abstract Menarche, the first menstruation, is one of the most important events in a womans reproductive life. The timing of menarche varies across populations and depends upon social interaction and family environment. It is also associated with several biological as well as social factors. The objective of this study was to explore the relationship between sibling composition and age at menarche (AAM) and to assess the association between the pattern of room sharing with family members of different sexes and menarcheal occurrence among rural Bengalee girls from West Bengal, India. The total sample comprised 577 Bengalee girls, 6–17 years of age, from various schools and madrasas in two blocks of the Nadia District of West Bengal State in India. The effects of room sharing on the occurrence of menarche, and of sibling composition on the menarcheal age, were assessed by analyses of covariance. The room-sharing pattern had a significant effect on menarcheal status (yes/no): a significantly higher percentage of girls who shared a room with the mother and/or sisters were postmenarcheal compared with those who shared a room with male family members. AAM did not differ significantly between girls having brothers or sisters. However, sibling order had a significant impact on AAM. Girls who had a younger sibling only (brother or sister) had a higher mean AAM, and girls who had both younger brothers and younger sisters had significantly higher mean AAM, than did the girls who had no younger sibling (singletons or having only elder siblings). There was no difference in AAM between the girls who had younger sister(s) and those who had younger brother(s). These differences were also independent of body mass index. In conclusion, the room sharing characteristics and the sibling sex composition, particularly their order, had significant effect on menarche in adolescent rural Bengalee girls.

Relationship between temperament and fatness in 11-year-old children and 17-year-old adolescents from Wrocław, Poland

Childhood obesity is increasing globally, and Poland is no exception. Studies indicate that relationship between obesity and psychological well-being is a complex issue and this needs further research. The objective of the present cross sectional study was to analyze the relationship between some temperament components and fatness among children in two developmental periods, approximately before and after adolescence. Participants included 122 children aged 11 years (57 boys and 65 girls), and 153 adolescents aged 17 years (64 boys and 89 girls) from 6 primary and 4 secondary schools in Wrocław, Poland. Height, weight, triceps-, subscapular and abdominal skinfold thicknesses were measured. Temperament was assessed by a questionnaire of Buss and Plomin (1984) in two versions: EAS-C for children completed by parents and EAS-D for youth and adults. Physical activity (PAL) was also assessed by a questionnaire. Mean, median and standard deviation (SD) were calculated and Students t tests were performed to test for significance of differences between groups. Chi squared (χ2) statistic was used to test the significance of differences in frequencies. Analyses of covariance (ANCOVA) were performed to show the effect of the social - psychological factors on fatness. Controlling for socioeconomic status and physical activity level, activity, as a component of temperament had a significant effect on body fatness. The only component of temperament, which significantly influenced level of fatness in girls, was emotionality. These relationships differed according to sex and the two age groups concerned.