Body adiposity and body types susceptibility to kidney stone disease among the Meiteis of Manipur: A cross-sectional study

Abstract

Diverse human characteristics significantly influence susceptibility to kidney stone disease (KSD), resulting in unequal risks of formation. Human variations can be classified by prakriti body types, rooted in holistic mind-body principles, and anthropometric somatotypes, focused solely on physical traits. Therefore, the study aims to investigate the susceptibility to KSD among the Meitei adult population of Manipur across different body types and other body adiposity variables. Among 712 participants (322 males, 390 females) from the Meitei adult population of Manipur, kidney stone prevalence is 11.24%. BMI and body fat show no association with stone formation. Interestingly, prakriti body types correlate with kidney stones, while somatotypes do not. The study emphasizes understanding one’s body type, especially prakriti, for proactive kidney stone prevention. Moreover, it highlights the ancient Ayurvedic system’s relevance in averting kidney stone development.