Impact of agro climatic and socio-economic variability on the nutritional status of inhabitants in the Garhwal Himalayas

• Published in: Ecology of food and nutrition Vol. 43; no. 5; pp. 409 - 420
• Main Authors: Dutta, A, Pant, K, Kumar, P, Singh, R.P
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Taylor & Francis Group 01.09.2004; Taylor and Francis
• Subjects: agroecological zones; altitude; Biological and medical sciences; body mass index; climatic zones; correlation studies; Feeding. Feeding behavior; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Garhwal Himalayas; gender difference; gender differences; high hills; low hills; mid hills; nutritional status; rural areas; socioeconomic status; urban areas; Vertebrates: anatomy and physiology, studies on body, several organs or systems; India; Asia; Himalayas; Human; Correlation; Socioeconomic status; Nutrition; Variability; Sex; mid hills; Economic status; Garhwal Himalayas; low hills; gender difference; Agroclimatology; Feeding; Climatic condition; Body mass index; Low; high hills; Nutritional status; correlation studies
• DOI: 10.1080/03670240490500325
• ISSN: 0367-0244

The Garhwal Himalayas are a part of a unique ecosystem, with sharp agro-climatic variations within a very small geographical area (53,485 km2). The varied agro-climatic situations result in different cropping systems and socio-economic lifestyles that could likely affect the nutritional status of the people living in this region. This article will attempt to explore the impact of these variables (namely, age, family size, education, income, calorie and protein intake, land holding, number of animals, and wheat production) on the body mass index (BMI) of the population residing in the Garhwal Hills. A total of 1,030 subjects were studied from the three agro-climatic zones (406 from the high hills, 292 from the mid hills, and 332 from the low hills). It has been found that the people living in the high hills are the most undernourished, as the lowest percentage of people (52.6 per cent) with an acceptable BMI and the highest percentage of people in the severely malnourished category (11.1 per cent) are found here. People living in urban areas have a better nutritional status. Correlation studies show that the nutritional status of the population improves with age, literacy levels, and small family size. In some cases, calorie and protein intake have a positive impact on the health of the people, whereas size of land holding, number of animals, and income of the family do not have any significant influence on nutritional status.