NUTRITIONAL ASSESSMENT BASED ON BODY MASS INDEX AMONG THE KAIBARTA WOMEN OF ASSAM

Abstract

The present study examines the nutritional status of ever-married Kaibarta women residing in the Lakhimpur and Dhemaji districts of Assam, with a particular focus on rural–urban disparities and the influence of selected biosocial factors such as age, family type, and educational attainment. As one of the largest Scheduled Caste communities in Assam, the Kaibartas constitute an important segment of the state’s socio-cultural fabric, making an assessment of their health and nutrition crucial. A community-based cross-sectional survey was conducted among 643 participants, with 337 women from rural areas and 306 from urban locations. Nutritional status assessment based on BMI showed that urban women enjoyed a comparatively better nutritional profile, with a higher proportion exhibiting normal BMI and lower rates of underweight and overweight than their rural counterparts. Age-specific patterns indicated that undernutrition was most prevalent among women in the older age cohorts in both settings, while normal BMI was more common among younger and middle-aged women. Overweight and obesity, though relatively low, tended to increase with age, particularly in urban populations. Family structure also influenced nutritional outcomes: in rural areas, underweight was slightly more common in joint families, whereas in urban areas it was more prevalent among nuclear families. Education emerged as a strong determinant of nutritional well-being, with graduate women across both regions showing the lowest rates of underweight and the highest prevalence of normal BMI. The study underscores the need for targeted nutritional interventions, especially in rural areas, and highlights the importance of education, health awareness, and sustained government initiatives in improving the nutritional health of Kaibarta women.