Dual Nutrition Burden in Urban Women from Low Middle Income Families

Currently India is experiencing dual nutrition burden. Prevalence of both under and over nutrition is reported to be higher in women as compared to men. Over nutrition rates in Delhi are among the highest in India. A mixed longitudinal study was undertaken to assess nutritional status of urban women from low middle income families. Between January 2015 and December 2017, 4155 non-pregnant non-lactating women were enrolled for this observational study. These women belonged to food secure low middle income families. They were living in highly congested urban localities in one or two room tenements and had no access to public spaces where they could go for walk or discretionary physical activities. In all women, height was measured at enrolment. Efforts were made to measure weight, mid upper arm, waist and hip circumferences once in three months. Prevalence of under nutrition (BMI < 18.5) in the 18-29 years age group was 12.1%, but 33.9% had BMI of ≥25. There was a progressive increase in over-nutrition, high waist and hip circumferences with increasing age; 68.4% of women aged 50 years and above were over-nourished. None of the undernourished women had waist circumference ≥ 80 cm; among the normally nourished 8.5% and in the over-nourished women 3/4th had waist circumference above 80cm. Hip circumference showed a similar trend but prevalence of ≥ 102 cm was lower. Prevalence of over nutrition, truncal and abdominal adiposity was high in women from Delhi low middle income families.