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Double Burden of Malnutrition and Its Determinants among Women of Two Ethnicities in North Bengal, India
Arindam Biswas and Argina Khatun
Published: 2025/09/01
Abstract
The double burden of malnutrition, defined as the coexistence of overweight/obesity with undernutrition in the population, has become an emerging public health problem in low-income and middle-income countries where its rising prevalence is now a significant health challenge. Obesity is a well-known risk factor for chronic illnesses including type II diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease. Also underweight has a direct effect on morbidity and mortality. The present cross-sectional study was done among 828 adult women (Rajbanshi: 414 and Namasudra: 414) aged 19-39 years of Maynaguri block, Jalpaiguri district, West Bengal, India. Asian-specific BMI cut-offs were used to assess the prevalence of underweight, overweight, and obesity. The present study documented a low prevalence of undernutrition among the studied population. According to Asia-specific cut-off values, the overall prevalence of underweight was 9.7%, and overall over-nutrition was 40.0% (overweight 18.0%, obesity 22.0%). The χ2 analysis showed that most of the socioeconomic variables were statistically related with the nutritional condition of the population except for ethnicity and woman’s educational level. Rajbanshi women had a higher prevalence of undernutrition than rates previously reported for Bengalee Kayastha and Nyishi women. Undernutrition among Namasudra women was lower than reported in earlier studies. However, the combined overweight-obesity prevalence was higher than previously reported among both ethnicities. The present study proves the existence of a double burden of malnutrition among the study populations, which is influenced by socioeconomic and demographic determinants. The results suggest a need to develop policies and programs tailored to specific socioeconomic and demographic groups to address the double burden of malnutrition. Intervention programs such as awareness campaigns and nutrition educational programs should be targeted according to the socioeconomic and demographic conditions.
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