Age Related Physiological and Anthropometric Variation Among the Adults of Macchi Community of Nani Daman

This study was undertaken to evaluate the health status with the help of physiological and anthropometric measurements. It is based on cross-sectional sample of (100) Tandel, (80) Mangel, and (60) Mithna villages consisting of young adults aged between 20-24yrs, 25-28yrs, 29-32yrs, 33-36yrsand 37-40yrs. Body measurements which have a direct bearing on health and nutritional status, like blood pressure, pulse rate, body weight, triceps skinfold thickness, subscapular (vertical) thickness, subscapular (lateral) thickness, biceps skinfold thickness, median calf skinfold thickness and abdomen skinfold thickness were taken into consideration. Variation in the blood pressure and pulse rate were seen with the advancement of age. It occurs in any form that is high or low. Hence, anthropometric measurements are useful criteria for assessing nutritional status. A large number of anthropometric measurements have been suggested by different workers. Here weight and skinfold thickness were considered in the anthropometric context. Skinfold thickness was found to be a better predictor of body fat. A wide variation in skinfold thickness could be attributed to the varied health status, physical activity level and energy expenditure.