Assessment of nutritional status, energy intake and energy requirement: a cross-sectional study among sabar males of West Bengal, India

Abstract

Malnutrition, particularly undernutrition, is a major problem for most low and middle-income countries. For several years, health professionals have recommended improving daily diets and continuous nutritional education as the solution to malnutrition and maximising a healthy life. More specifically, malnutrition is often reversible to a certain extent if the balance between energy intake (EI) and energy requirement (ER) can be measured accurately and maintained accordingly. The present study tries to assess the nutritional status and evaluate the EI and ER among the Sabar males living in the Purulia district of West Bengal, India. For this cross-sectional study, 400 Sabar men aged 18–60 years were selected. To assess their nutritional status, the anthropometric measurements of height (cm) and weight (kg) were taken following a standard procedure. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated, and the classification proposed by World Health Organization (WHO) for the South Asian population was considered. Body composition variables like Percent Body Fat (PBF), Fat Mass (FM), Fat- Free Mass (FFM), Fat Mass Index (FMI) and Fat-Free Mass Index (FFMI) were also calculated. The 24-hour dietary recall method was used to assess the nutrient intake (i.e., EI). ER was derived from the estimated total energy expenditure (TEE) calculated from the predictive equation proposed by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) for the Indian population. The study protocol was approved by the institutional ethical committee. Data were collected after getting consent from the study participants. The rate of undernutrition increased with age and was found to be highest (56.9%) among the aged individuals (41–50 years) with an overall prevalence of 48.5%. A gradual decrease in FFM, FFMI and a steady increase in PBF, FM, and FMI was seen with the increase in age. Differences were observed in EI and TEE across different age groups and nutritional categories. A negative energy flow was identified where TEE exceeded EI in each age and nutritional category. The high prevalence of undernutrition demands immediate nutritional intervention. This is probably the first report on the assessment of EI and TEE among any indigenous community living in West Bengal, so further studies are required among other communities living in similar or different ecological conditions for a better understanding and formulation of nutritional policies with special emphasis on elderly people.