title: A study on nutritional status among young adult Bengalee females of Kolkata: effect of menarcheal age and per capita income.
abstract: Nutritional status and its association with age at menarche and per capita income was studied in a sample of one hundred seventy five young adult post menarche Bengalee females of Kolkata, West Bengal, India. Height and weight were measured following standard technique and BMI was calculated. Information regarding age, age at menarche, per capita income etc. were collected through schedule. The results of the linear regression analysis revealed that both age at menarche and per capita income have significant (p < 0.05) impact on BMI. However, menarcheal age demonstrated negative impact (beta = -0.21) on BMI and explained 4% of the variance of BMI. Contrary to that, per capita income demonstrated positive impact (beta = 0.34) on BMI and explained 11% of the variance of BMI. However, the overall prevalence of thinness, overweight and obese was 30.3%, 9.1% and 4.6%, respectively. The results of the chi-square analysis revealed significant (p < 0.01) association of nutritional status with age at menarche and per capita income.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anthropology, University College of Science, Technology & Agriculture, University of Calcutta, Kolkata, West Bengal, India. jrghosh@rediffmail.com
authors.forename: Jyoti Ratan
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Ghosh
authors.forename: Sohini
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Basak
authors.forename: Arup Ratan
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Bandyopadhyay
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D015992:Body Mass Index; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003906:Developing Countries; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D007194:India; D016014:Linear Models; D008572:Menarche; D009752:Nutritional Status; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology; D050177:Overweight / Q000453:epidemiology; D013851:Thinness / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult