Biology of the Tribal Groups of Rajasthan, India: 2. Physical Growth and Anthropometric Somatotypes

In the present study an attempt has been made to investigate adolescent physical growth and anthropometric somatotypes of the tribal groups of Rajasthan. Cross-sectional data on 2928 samples belonging to adolescent (8+ to 18+) and adult (19 & above) age groups were collected during the year 1999-2001 for various anthropometric measurements, which included height, weight, diameters, skinfolds and circumferences. The data were collected following the standard mathods and somatotypes were obtained from body measurements. The tribal groups studied experience reduced body weight and stature, low body mass, associated with reduced bone mass, thus resulting in greater risk. Both Bhil males and females show the least development in terms of stature, body weight, subcutaneous fat deposition and bone widths than the other tribal groups. Review of somatotype changes indicate that in all the population groups, ectomorphic component dominates with few changes from ectomorphy to mesomorphy, thus reflecting their linear physiques.