Nutritional, status of adults: A case study by religion and socio-economic status

The effect of levels of education and monthly per capita income on variations in nutrtional status of male and female adults by religion was assessed. The data on height and weight were collected on 1682 adults of Hyderabad city. The subjects were classified into four categories with (i) low income and low education, (ii) high income and high education, (ill) low income and high education, and (iv) high income and low education. The results indicate that, both male and female adults in all the four socio-economic categories were shorter and lower in weight than the W.H.O. standards and their height and weight were also lower than those of developed countries like United Kingdom. These findings are same for both Hindu and Muslim religions. The Body Mass Index (B.M.I.) and weight for height (%) of both male and female adults in all categories were also lower than the standards. Higher the economic status of subjects, higher was the degree of improvement in the measurements and indices, which is true for both Hindu and Muslim adults. For given level of income, with an improvement in the education, there has been a significant improvement in these measurements and indices. It may be concluded that higher the level of education either with increase in income or at the same level of income, better was the improvement in the nutritional status of male or female adults. Overall, the grades of undernutrition as well as the prevalence of overweight/ obesity were higher in females than in males. The findings are same for both the Hindu and Muslim adults.