Variation in Anthropometric Characteristics of Body Composition with Aging, Among Adult Rural Population of Odisha, India

Abstract

Nutritional anthropometry is readily used as a simple tool for surveillance tool to attenuate chronic diseases. Anthropometric characteristic of body composition among the rural population of Odisha is an attempt to envisage the baseline data as well as investigate the adult to old age difference body composition status of the population. 263 men and 286 women of variable age groups (40-79 years) from the Ganjam district of Odisha, India were recruited. Anthropometric measurements (height, weight, skinfold measurements) were recorded to calculate the percent body fat, body mass index and body surface area. With increase in age, men showed a reduction in weight, abdominal skin folds, percent body fat as well as BMI, however the decrement was not statistically significant. In case of women however, significant differences in reduction of these parameters between different age groups were observed. Post hoc analysis also revealed insignificant differences in the body composition parameters among men with the studied age groups. However, in women, all the parameters significantly reduced with the increasing age groups. Although, there is a reduction in anthropometric characteristics of body composition among rural men and women studied, the reduction is not significant in men. It is noted that physical activities tend to reduce with age, resulting in less utilization of fat. Also among men, ageing is related to low plasma free testosterone levels, increasing the BMI as well as fat mass and decrease in muscle mass. The result state that rural men, in particular, of Odisha, India exhibit rotundity-oriented susceptible anthropometric characteristics of body composition with increasing age.