Health and Nutritional Status of College Students of Different Ethnic Backgrounds of Tripura, a North-East State of India

Aims: To assess nutritional status and general health of college students of two diverse socio cultural origins with the help of anthropometric measures and social risk scores.

Study Design: Cross-sectional study.

Place and Duration of Study: Human Physiology Laboratory, Tripura Institute of Paramedical Sciences, Hapania, Amtali, Tripura (West) 799130, India between October 2011 to March 2013.

Methodology: We included subjects from two diverse socio cultural origin, Group A (Tribal n=132; male: 69; Female 63) and Group B (non-Tribal: n=498; Male: 258; Female: 240), aged 18 to 21 years. Measurements included were height, weight, body mass index (BMI), mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC), fat-free mass index (FFMI), fat mass index ( FMI), muscle mass (MM) and fat-free mass (FFM). Social risk score also was determined.

Results: There was a significant group and gender-based variation in anthropometric measurements and indices. Based on BMI, the prevalence of chronic energy deficiency (CED) was more in tribal group (20.45%), compared to non-tribal group (7.43%). MUAC showed similar trend and proportion in CED as a comparative measure with BMI, except minor exception. Students of both the groups were found in poor health status (Rohrer index [RI] scores: Tribal males [33.33%] and non-tribal males [26.74%]). However, females of both the groups were found less affected. Overall, tribes (24.25%) were seen more in subnormal health state, compared to non-tribes (17.27%). Both RI and social risk scores further indicated that, on a comparative basis, irrespective of gender, tribes are more vulnerable population. Analyses also have shown that, irrespective of groups and genders, FFMI was the best predictor to assess health status (RI) of the studied population.

Conclusion: Tribes are more in subnormal nutritional and health conditions, compared to non-tribes. Local health authorities should implement nutritional assessment programs for managing the burden of under nutrition and poor health status.