A Comparative Study Of Body Measurements In Post Graduate Female Students In Kashmir

Abstract

Anthropometry is the scientific study of the measurements and proportions of the human body. Anthropometric measurements have been used to develop guidelines for nutritional status, growth, weight status and disease risk in both children and adults. The aim of study was to assess the anthropometric parameters of female day scholars and hostellers enrolled in different Universities of Kashmir. Using proportional allocation, a sample size of 525 female University students comprising of 350 hostellers and 175 day scholars were selected for the study. The parameters assessed during the study were weight, height, waist and hip circumference, Body Mass Index (BMI), Waist to Hip Ratio (WHR) and Waist Height Ratio (WhtR). Using SPSS software the data was subjected to descriptive analysis and various tests like mean, standard deviation, t test and f test, wherever required were used for interpretation. The mean BMI of married and unmarried respondents residing at home was 27.2 kg/m2 and 24.32 kg/m2 respectively whereas BMI of married respondents residing at hostel was 21.93 kg/m2 and that of unmarried hostellers was 22.49 kg/m2.There was no significant difference in BMI of married day scholars and hostellers (t = 1.99, p = 0.06) whereas a significant difference was seen in BMI of unmarried day scholars and hostellers (t = 1.97, p =