Body Mass Index and Nutritional Status of the Tribal Women in Katghora Forest Division

Abstract

The Body Mass Index (BMI) is a key indicator of nutritional status and overall health, particularly among tribal women living in remote forested regions. This study examines the BMI trends and nutritional status of tribal women in the Katghora Forest Division. The data has been collected by interviewing 521 women through stratified random sampling method. The result highlights the socio-economic conditions with body mass index. The findings shows that underweight conditions are prevalent among older women, while younger and middle-aged groups exhibit slightly better BMI levels. Middle Age women (31-50 years) BMI values fluctuate between 17.99 and 19.61, which indicates consistently low body weight trends, which is attributed to high physical activity levels and limited access to nutrient-rich foods. Forest Range variations indicate that socio-economic conditions significantly influence BMI. The regression analysis has been done in the seven ranges of Katghora Forest Division to observe the association between socio-economic factors and Body Mass Index (BMI) among tribal women. Age showed a statistically significant negative correlation with BMI in Atmanagar (Coef. = -0.28, p = 0.04), Education factor is observed as a significant predictor in Kendai (p = 0.03) and Pali (p = 0.05) and Income has a positive significant association with BMI in Pali (p = 0.05), while family size did not demonstrate consistent significance across ranges. These findings highlight the importance of region-specific interventions and the need for holistic approaches that integrate education, income support, and age-sensitive health programs to address nutritional disparities in tribal communities. By integrating traditional dietary knowledge with modern nutritional guidelines, policymakers and healthcare providers can develop effective strategies to enhance the overall well-being of tribal women in Katghora Forest Division.