Anthropometry and body composition in two tribal populations of India

Chatterjee, DiptenduDr. Diptendu Chatterjee is Assistant professor in Anthropology. The area of specialization is Physical anthropology. The area of Research is anthropometry, body composition, and disease association among the different populations of India. He has published a number of research articles in National and International level.

Utilization of anthropometry as criteria for ethnic classification gets back when a number of scientists utilized it as major tool of ethnic classification. A good correlation between traits and linguistic affinities in general would be indicative of derivation of different groups of population from different stocks. Ethnic differences in body composition rules and constants are important and challenging to investigate. The result of the present study revealed that Oraons were found significantly higher adiposity in terms of mean PBF and FM compared to that of the Mundas and consequently, significantly less muscle i.e FFM than the Mundas and the result vindicated PBF and FM could be best indicator for assessing ethnic group variation in the present study. In view of the above present study demonstrated the endeavor of Somatotyping, corroborates significant endomorphy among the Oraons, while Mundas were more ectomorphy to mesomorphy. The content of the book may help the students, researchers, scholars for classical studies regarding anthropometry and body composition in population variation in a non-invasive method.