KAUSHIK BOSE
Prof. Kaushik Bose is a biological anthropologist from West Bengal, India.
Born on 24.11.1962, Kaushik is a Professor since 2010, at the Department of Anthropology, Vidyasagar University, Midnapore, West Bengal, India.
He was the recipient of a Commonwealth Scholarship and obtained his Ph.D. from Cambridge University in 1996. Earlier he had obtained his Ph.D. degree from Panjab University, Chandigarh, India, in 1992.
He has been the recipient of several national and international scholarships, fellowships and medals. He is a Member/Fellow of several national and international professional bodies, most notable among them is the International Fellow of the Unit for the Biocultural Variation and Obesity (UBVO), Oxford University, U.K.
He has published more than 310 research papers in peer reviewed national and international indexed journals of high repute besides authoring a book and editing seven books.
He is the editor of the Journal of Life Sciences besides being an Associate Editor of several journals. He serves as a Member of the Editorial Board of numerous national and international journals. Moreover, he acts as a reviewer for more than 50 national and international journals.
His main areas of research are anthropometry and its relation to human growth, health, nutrition, body composition and disease. He is particularly interested in ethnic variation in health and disease.
He has been undertaking collaborative research with several institutes in India and abroad including UBVO, Oxford University, Unit of Anthropology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Wroclaw.
In April 2016, he was awarded a D.Sc. degree by Vidyasagar University, Midnapore, West Bengal, India.
He (along with colleagues from USAID, Tufts University, FHI360 and other countries) has proposed a new global cut-off point of mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) of 24 cm to determine adult undernutrition.
Recently, he has been nominated a Fellow of the West Bengal Academy of Science and Technology (WAST).
Supervisors: PROF. V. BHALLA, PANJAB UNIVERSITY, CHANDIGARH, INDIA and PROF. C.G.N. MASCIE-TAYLOR, UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE, UNITED KINGDOM
Phone: 8509924017
Address: Department of Anthropology, Vidyasagar University, Midnapore - 721 102, West Bengal, INDIA.
Born on 24.11.1962, Kaushik is a Professor since 2010, at the Department of Anthropology, Vidyasagar University, Midnapore, West Bengal, India.
He was the recipient of a Commonwealth Scholarship and obtained his Ph.D. from Cambridge University in 1996. Earlier he had obtained his Ph.D. degree from Panjab University, Chandigarh, India, in 1992.
He has been the recipient of several national and international scholarships, fellowships and medals. He is a Member/Fellow of several national and international professional bodies, most notable among them is the International Fellow of the Unit for the Biocultural Variation and Obesity (UBVO), Oxford University, U.K.
He has published more than 310 research papers in peer reviewed national and international indexed journals of high repute besides authoring a book and editing seven books.
He is the editor of the Journal of Life Sciences besides being an Associate Editor of several journals. He serves as a Member of the Editorial Board of numerous national and international journals. Moreover, he acts as a reviewer for more than 50 national and international journals.
His main areas of research are anthropometry and its relation to human growth, health, nutrition, body composition and disease. He is particularly interested in ethnic variation in health and disease.
He has been undertaking collaborative research with several institutes in India and abroad including UBVO, Oxford University, Unit of Anthropology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Wroclaw.
In April 2016, he was awarded a D.Sc. degree by Vidyasagar University, Midnapore, West Bengal, India.
He (along with colleagues from USAID, Tufts University, FHI360 and other countries) has proposed a new global cut-off point of mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) of 24 cm to determine adult undernutrition.
Recently, he has been nominated a Fellow of the West Bengal Academy of Science and Technology (WAST).
Supervisors: PROF. V. BHALLA, PANJAB UNIVERSITY, CHANDIGARH, INDIA and PROF. C.G.N. MASCIE-TAYLOR, UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE, UNITED KINGDOM
Phone: 8509924017
Address: Department of Anthropology, Vidyasagar University, Midnapore - 721 102, West Bengal, INDIA.
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Papers by KAUSHIK BOSE
Background: The relationship between early age at menarche (AAM) and body height (HT), including its different segments
has not been extensively studied among non Western populations. Lengths of the lower (distal) part of the leg, such as knee HT
(KH) and tibial length (TbL), are considered to be sensitive indicators of living conditions during early growth and development.
Life history theory predicts that within a survival challenge the growth of vital parts of the body shall be prioritized over less
essential parts. The present study hypothesized that earlier age at menarche would be associated with shorter tibial length in
resource constrained settings.
Aim: To investigate the potential associations of menarcheal age with HT, KH, TbL, and other linear components of HT among
the Bengalee schoolgirls aged 10–13 years.
Methods: Among the 208 girls aged 10–13 years, menarcheal status and age at menarche were determined by status quo and
retrospective methods, respectively. Lower leg length was represented by two measures, KH and the supracutaneous measure
of TbL. The differences in HT, sitting HT (SH), total leg length (LL), thigh length (TL), KH, and TbL, between pre-menarcheal-
(
PMG) and post-menarcheal
girls (POMG), as well as between earlier menarcheal-(
EMG) and later menarcheal girls (LMG), were
assessed by student t-test
and analysis of covariance.
Results: The POMG were heavier, taller and had higher adiposity than their PMG peers, without showing any significant age-difference.
HT, knee HT, TbL, and TbL to HT ratio showed significant differences between the EMG and LMG. The EMG showed
lower values for all of those measures and the strongest difference was observed for TbL. However, there were no significant
differences in SH and SHR between EMG and LMG.
Conclusions: The study indicated a possible effect of early AAM on growth of distal body parts in a resource poor socioeconomic
condition. Further studies on the relationship between growth and AAM among different populations living in different
socio-ecological
conditions could be worth conducting.
Introduction: The health and nutritional status of tribal women are important factors that not only contribute to maintaining a healthy family and healthy children but also influence economic growth globally. Tribal women health is affected by various important factors such as poverty, early marriage, domestic violence, lack of nutrition, education, health care facilities, and insufficient knowledge or awareness. The present result aims to understand the health and nutritional status of tribal women of two blocks of Paschim Medinipur district of West Bengal. Methods: The present cross-sectional study was conducted in twelve villages (Duan, Baguan, Chak Sujal, Bankakul, Amra Gerya, Kismat Duan Roypukur, Srirampur, Sridharpur, Sirni, Keshrambha, Sahania and Nandakuria) under Debra and Dantan-II blocks of Paschim Medinipur district, West Bengal, India. Results: From the present study we found that mean values of anthropometric variables like WT, MUAC, BSF, TSF, SISF and SSSF were higher among the women in Debra block than those in Dantan-II and these values are statistically significant (p<0.001). The derived measurements of BMI, FM, FFM, FMI, and FFMI were higher among Debra block women than Dantan-II and and all these values are statistically significant (p<0.001; in the case of FFM, the value is p<0.01). Overall, undernutrition based on BMI of the study population was 31.2%. Among them, women of Dantan-II block were more undernourished (46.3%) than Debra block (18.5%) (ᵪ2 =33.85, df=2, p<0.001). Similar to BMI, the nutritional status of the study population based on MUAC showed that overall undernutrion was 55.4%, among them in Dantan-II block women were more undernourished (65.0%) than Debra women (47.3%) (ᵪ2 =8.54, df=1, p<0.01). Women in the Debra block were more obese (30.31%) than Dantan-II (10.6%) (ᵪ2= 15.30, df=1, p<0.001). Conclusions: From various studies, we found that the nutritional status of Scheduled Tribe women varies widely depending on factors such as rural housing, illiteracy and poor economic status. In the present study we found that the prevalence of undernutrition was higher among the Dantan-II block women than the Debra block. Almost one third of the study participants were undernourished, which is why a well-planned and coordinated effort is needed to address the scenario of malnutrition among the tribal population.
Keywords: Ho, BMI, Undernutrition, Women
in the human body according to the two-compartment model. This method is widely used because of the major cardiovascular and metabolic health issues related to fat distribution. Body composition assessments are regularly used to diagnose the nutritional health status of
an individual. Studies found various number of differences between the methods that are used to assess the body composition. The principal objective of the study is to found the difference between the estimation of body composition variables using body impedance analysis (BIA) and anthropometry. A total 201 adult male students aged between 18-28 years
were studied. The data collected were height, weight, waist circumference (WC), bicep skinfold, triceps skinfold, suprailliac skinfold, subscapular skinfold. An OMRON full body sensor body composition monitor and scale – HBF-510 was used to assess the percentage body fat (PBF) of the study participants. Significant mean difference found in fat mass (FM), fat free
mass (FFM) and PBF using anthropometry and BIA. Also, correlation of different variables to diagnose obesity using BIA and anthropometry between the methods was found in this study. The prevalence of obesity exhibits a higher rate using BMI than BIA measured FM. It is important to decide which method to use for more accuracy and feasibility in a population based study.
coexistence of undernutrition and overnutrition, which is referred to as double burden of malnutrition is well observed
among children.
Objective: This paper investigates the total prevalence of malnutrition (undernutrition+overnutrtion) among preschool children
of Empowered Action Group (EAG) states in India using the secondary data, which was extracted from Clinical, Anthropometric and
Biochemical (CAB) Survey.
Materials and Methods: A total of 92444 (43655 females; 48789 males) under 5 years preschool children were
included from 165 districts of EAG states and Assam in India. To assess the nutritional status, Z scores for weight-for-height (WHZ), height-forage
(HAZ), weight-for-age (WAZ) were calculated by following WHO standards using AnthroPlus software. Double burden of malnutrition was
evaluated using categorical components of rCIAF (revised Composite Index Anthropometric Failure).
Results: The overall prevalence of UF and OF were 50.48% (47.34% female; 53.29% male) and 3.76% (3.95% females and 3.60% males), respectively. The highest prevalence of UF was observed in Madhya Pradesh (54.47%). Sex-specifc highest prevalence in females and males were observed in Jharkhand (51.76%) and Madhya Pradesh (58.91%).
Conclusion: The outcomes from this study may help the policymakers in ameliorating the problem of malnutrition.
Measuring linear body segments for studying the growth of any individual anthropometric measurements have been an important tool from earliest times to the present days. The current investigation was cross sectional study undertaken among 1040 (boys=525; girls=515) Bengalee
children aged 2-5 years in the Jalpaiguri district of West Bengal, India. There were 40 ICDS centres were selected randomly for the study. This study aims to investigate the age and sex variation of linear body segments such as Height, Sitting Height, Sitting Height/Height, Sitting Height/Sub Ischial Leg Length, Sub Ischial Leg Length, Sub ischial leg length Percentage, Upper Trunk Length and Upper Trunk Length Percentage. The study reveals that sex-specific age variation was found for all linear body segment variables except for the boy's Body Mass Index. There was significant sexual dimorphism observed for some anthropometric variables such as Height, Sitting Height, Upper Trunk Length and Sitting Height/Sub-Ischial Leg Length. Sub Ischial Leg Length Percentage shows a negative correlation with Body Mass Index among both sexes whereas Upper Trunk Length Percentage shows a positive
correlation with Body Mass Index among both sexes. The correlation of sub-ischial leg length with Upper Trunk Length, Upper Trunk Length Percentage and Sitting Height/Sub-Ischial Leg Length was observed in all age groups among both sexes. Correlation of Sitting Height with Sub ischial leg length was also observed at every age group for both sexes. The findings of the present study may help to determine the sex and age variations on linear body segments during growth among children.
Keywords: Linear Body Segments, Sitting height, Body Mass Index, Sub Ischial leg length, Upper trunk length, Sub Ischial leg length percentage, Upper trunk length percentage.
for the assessment of adiposity in the human body. Anthropometric predictors and Skinfold
thickness were used to measure body composition. Determination of fat and fat-free mass has
considerable interest in the evaluation of body composition and nutritional status in children.
Different scholars suggest the use of the skinfold method for the measurement of subcutaneous
fat. The present study was done among Bengalee preschool children (479 boys and 471 girls)
aged between 2-5 years of Jalpaiguri. In this study, we used the equation for converting
anthropometric data to body fat percentage. Body composition characteristics in a correlation
with anthropometric dimensions among preschool children of the present study. Comparison
of Percent Body Fat, Fat Mass & Fat Mass Index done by using body composition equations.
Significant age-combined sex differences were found among most of the anthropometric and
body composition variables except Mid Upper Arm Circumference, Hip Circumference,
Waist Circumference and Body Mass Index. Most of the adiposity measures such as Percent
Body Fat, Fat Mass and Fat Mass Index positively correlated with anthropometric variables.
Estimation of body composition variables by comparing two equations (Slaughter and
Shaikh & Mahalanabis) in the present sample clearly shows the mean difference for all
body composition variables. Consideration of ethnicity may be utilized to develop such body composition equations.
Background: The relationship between early age at menarche (AAM) and body height (HT), including its different segments
has not been extensively studied among non Western populations. Lengths of the lower (distal) part of the leg, such as knee HT
(KH) and tibial length (TbL), are considered to be sensitive indicators of living conditions during early growth and development.
Life history theory predicts that within a survival challenge the growth of vital parts of the body shall be prioritized over less
essential parts. The present study hypothesized that earlier age at menarche would be associated with shorter tibial length in
resource constrained settings.
Aim: To investigate the potential associations of menarcheal age with HT, KH, TbL, and other linear components of HT among
the Bengalee schoolgirls aged 10–13 years.
Methods: Among the 208 girls aged 10–13 years, menarcheal status and age at menarche were determined by status quo and
retrospective methods, respectively. Lower leg length was represented by two measures, KH and the supracutaneous measure
of TbL. The differences in HT, sitting HT (SH), total leg length (LL), thigh length (TL), KH, and TbL, between pre-menarcheal-
(
PMG) and post-menarcheal
girls (POMG), as well as between earlier menarcheal-(
EMG) and later menarcheal girls (LMG), were
assessed by student t-test
and analysis of covariance.
Results: The POMG were heavier, taller and had higher adiposity than their PMG peers, without showing any significant age-difference.
HT, knee HT, TbL, and TbL to HT ratio showed significant differences between the EMG and LMG. The EMG showed
lower values for all of those measures and the strongest difference was observed for TbL. However, there were no significant
differences in SH and SHR between EMG and LMG.
Conclusions: The study indicated a possible effect of early AAM on growth of distal body parts in a resource poor socioeconomic
condition. Further studies on the relationship between growth and AAM among different populations living in different
socio-ecological
conditions could be worth conducting.
Introduction: The health and nutritional status of tribal women are important factors that not only contribute to maintaining a healthy family and healthy children but also influence economic growth globally. Tribal women health is affected by various important factors such as poverty, early marriage, domestic violence, lack of nutrition, education, health care facilities, and insufficient knowledge or awareness. The present result aims to understand the health and nutritional status of tribal women of two blocks of Paschim Medinipur district of West Bengal. Methods: The present cross-sectional study was conducted in twelve villages (Duan, Baguan, Chak Sujal, Bankakul, Amra Gerya, Kismat Duan Roypukur, Srirampur, Sridharpur, Sirni, Keshrambha, Sahania and Nandakuria) under Debra and Dantan-II blocks of Paschim Medinipur district, West Bengal, India. Results: From the present study we found that mean values of anthropometric variables like WT, MUAC, BSF, TSF, SISF and SSSF were higher among the women in Debra block than those in Dantan-II and these values are statistically significant (p<0.001). The derived measurements of BMI, FM, FFM, FMI, and FFMI were higher among Debra block women than Dantan-II and and all these values are statistically significant (p<0.001; in the case of FFM, the value is p<0.01). Overall, undernutrition based on BMI of the study population was 31.2%. Among them, women of Dantan-II block were more undernourished (46.3%) than Debra block (18.5%) (ᵪ2 =33.85, df=2, p<0.001). Similar to BMI, the nutritional status of the study population based on MUAC showed that overall undernutrion was 55.4%, among them in Dantan-II block women were more undernourished (65.0%) than Debra women (47.3%) (ᵪ2 =8.54, df=1, p<0.01). Women in the Debra block were more obese (30.31%) than Dantan-II (10.6%) (ᵪ2= 15.30, df=1, p<0.001). Conclusions: From various studies, we found that the nutritional status of Scheduled Tribe women varies widely depending on factors such as rural housing, illiteracy and poor economic status. In the present study we found that the prevalence of undernutrition was higher among the Dantan-II block women than the Debra block. Almost one third of the study participants were undernourished, which is why a well-planned and coordinated effort is needed to address the scenario of malnutrition among the tribal population.
Keywords: Ho, BMI, Undernutrition, Women
in the human body according to the two-compartment model. This method is widely used because of the major cardiovascular and metabolic health issues related to fat distribution. Body composition assessments are regularly used to diagnose the nutritional health status of
an individual. Studies found various number of differences between the methods that are used to assess the body composition. The principal objective of the study is to found the difference between the estimation of body composition variables using body impedance analysis (BIA) and anthropometry. A total 201 adult male students aged between 18-28 years
were studied. The data collected were height, weight, waist circumference (WC), bicep skinfold, triceps skinfold, suprailliac skinfold, subscapular skinfold. An OMRON full body sensor body composition monitor and scale – HBF-510 was used to assess the percentage body fat (PBF) of the study participants. Significant mean difference found in fat mass (FM), fat free
mass (FFM) and PBF using anthropometry and BIA. Also, correlation of different variables to diagnose obesity using BIA and anthropometry between the methods was found in this study. The prevalence of obesity exhibits a higher rate using BMI than BIA measured FM. It is important to decide which method to use for more accuracy and feasibility in a population based study.
coexistence of undernutrition and overnutrition, which is referred to as double burden of malnutrition is well observed
among children.
Objective: This paper investigates the total prevalence of malnutrition (undernutrition+overnutrtion) among preschool children
of Empowered Action Group (EAG) states in India using the secondary data, which was extracted from Clinical, Anthropometric and
Biochemical (CAB) Survey.
Materials and Methods: A total of 92444 (43655 females; 48789 males) under 5 years preschool children were
included from 165 districts of EAG states and Assam in India. To assess the nutritional status, Z scores for weight-for-height (WHZ), height-forage
(HAZ), weight-for-age (WAZ) were calculated by following WHO standards using AnthroPlus software. Double burden of malnutrition was
evaluated using categorical components of rCIAF (revised Composite Index Anthropometric Failure).
Results: The overall prevalence of UF and OF were 50.48% (47.34% female; 53.29% male) and 3.76% (3.95% females and 3.60% males), respectively. The highest prevalence of UF was observed in Madhya Pradesh (54.47%). Sex-specifc highest prevalence in females and males were observed in Jharkhand (51.76%) and Madhya Pradesh (58.91%).
Conclusion: The outcomes from this study may help the policymakers in ameliorating the problem of malnutrition.
Measuring linear body segments for studying the growth of any individual anthropometric measurements have been an important tool from earliest times to the present days. The current investigation was cross sectional study undertaken among 1040 (boys=525; girls=515) Bengalee
children aged 2-5 years in the Jalpaiguri district of West Bengal, India. There were 40 ICDS centres were selected randomly for the study. This study aims to investigate the age and sex variation of linear body segments such as Height, Sitting Height, Sitting Height/Height, Sitting Height/Sub Ischial Leg Length, Sub Ischial Leg Length, Sub ischial leg length Percentage, Upper Trunk Length and Upper Trunk Length Percentage. The study reveals that sex-specific age variation was found for all linear body segment variables except for the boy's Body Mass Index. There was significant sexual dimorphism observed for some anthropometric variables such as Height, Sitting Height, Upper Trunk Length and Sitting Height/Sub-Ischial Leg Length. Sub Ischial Leg Length Percentage shows a negative correlation with Body Mass Index among both sexes whereas Upper Trunk Length Percentage shows a positive
correlation with Body Mass Index among both sexes. The correlation of sub-ischial leg length with Upper Trunk Length, Upper Trunk Length Percentage and Sitting Height/Sub-Ischial Leg Length was observed in all age groups among both sexes. Correlation of Sitting Height with Sub ischial leg length was also observed at every age group for both sexes. The findings of the present study may help to determine the sex and age variations on linear body segments during growth among children.
Keywords: Linear Body Segments, Sitting height, Body Mass Index, Sub Ischial leg length, Upper trunk length, Sub Ischial leg length percentage, Upper trunk length percentage.
for the assessment of adiposity in the human body. Anthropometric predictors and Skinfold
thickness were used to measure body composition. Determination of fat and fat-free mass has
considerable interest in the evaluation of body composition and nutritional status in children.
Different scholars suggest the use of the skinfold method for the measurement of subcutaneous
fat. The present study was done among Bengalee preschool children (479 boys and 471 girls)
aged between 2-5 years of Jalpaiguri. In this study, we used the equation for converting
anthropometric data to body fat percentage. Body composition characteristics in a correlation
with anthropometric dimensions among preschool children of the present study. Comparison
of Percent Body Fat, Fat Mass & Fat Mass Index done by using body composition equations.
Significant age-combined sex differences were found among most of the anthropometric and
body composition variables except Mid Upper Arm Circumference, Hip Circumference,
Waist Circumference and Body Mass Index. Most of the adiposity measures such as Percent
Body Fat, Fat Mass and Fat Mass Index positively correlated with anthropometric variables.
Estimation of body composition variables by comparing two equations (Slaughter and
Shaikh & Mahalanabis) in the present sample clearly shows the mean difference for all
body composition variables. Consideration of ethnicity may be utilized to develop such body composition equations.
The world is undergoing a rapid epidemiological and nutritional transition characterized by persistent nutritional deficiencies, as evidenced by the prevalence of stunting, anemia, and iron and zinc deficiencies.
Concomitantly, there is a progressive rise in the prevalence of obesity.Malnutrition is one of the most important grounds for improper physical and mental development of children. The problem of low or excessive body weight concerns countries with different levels of socioeconomic development. This is a medical, social, and economic issue.
Every country in the world is affected by one or more forms of malnutrition. Combating malnutrition in all its forms is one of the greatest global health challenges. Infants, children and adolescents are at particular
risk of malnutrition. In children, malnutrition has particularly significant health consequences during both early development and adulthood.
Malnutrition endangers children’s survival, health, growth and development, slows national progress towards the developmental goals and thus diminishes the strength and capacity of nation. The developmental,
economic, social, and medical impacts of the global burden of malnutrition are serious and lasting, for individuals and their families, for communities and for countries.
Nutrition research can be aimed at identifying the various social, cultural, political, and economic factors of nutrition in order to fully understand the underlying causes of malnutrition. Nevertheless, exploring the issues of food security, dietary diversity, and infant-feeding practices can provide a comprehensive understanding of a population’s nutritional status.
In view of the above, this book is devoted to the issues in childhood malnutrition.Though, it is not possible to cover all aspectes of childhood malnutrition in one book, we attempt to contribute our best effort to address
the issue.
In the first chapter, Hermanussen et al. discussed how stature signals social rather than nutritional status in human. It was also observed that the differences in body height between different classes are neither caused by
differences in nutrition nor by differences in health.
In the next chapter Karim et al. report about gender inequalities in nutrition among under five children in rural areas of Rajshahi district, Bangladesh. The authors report that boys had more favourable nutritional
status compared with girls. The study also reveals that the inferior sociocultural position of women in the studied population.
Next, Roy and Sen have attracted our attention on the issue of polio immunization and malnutrition. The chapter presents an overview on studies
that clearly depicted that malnourished children are suffering the ineffectiveness of polio vaccine.
The fourth chapter by Dutta and Sengupta highlighted on under nutrition among the adolescent Ahom children of upper Assam. The study shows that Ahom children are facing a risk of underweight as the prevalence of underweight is than stunting and thinness.
Mahalanabis and Sen in the fifth chapter of this book highlights on the relevance of ‘thin-fat’ phenotype. Moreover, the authors also developed and validated new improved tools to measure adiposity in infants and young children suitable for South Asia.
In the next chapter, Pruszkowska-Przybylskashows the influences of environmental and genetic factors on body mass and proportion among individuals on the progressive stages of ontogenesis in Poland. The paper
also highlighted on malnutrition and epigenetics.
Bharati et al. in the seventh chapter depicts the prevalence of overweight and obesity among 6-10 year children and investigates the probable risk factors of childhood obesity.The authors show that the children of private schools are more obese than public schools. The study also shows that durations of television watching, games, junk food, family history and morbidity are the risk factors for increasing childhood obesity.
The eighth chapter by Lipoeto and Helmizar discuss on the relationship between socio-economic statuses with nutritional status among first grade school children of Padang, Indonesia. The study also reveals that the growth of children in achieving optimal growth potential is the result of adequate nutritional needs.
The next chapter on the nutritional status of tribal children under five years of age in ITDA Paderu Division of Andhra Pradesh by Sreegiri and Nayak shows that prevalence of stunting, underweight and wasting is 51%,
49.2%and 32.2%, respectively. The study also highlighted that the feeding practices in the early infancy are satisfactory, but in the late infancy and early
childhood, there is deficiency in the frequency and adequacy of the feeds leading to wasting and stunting.
Ghosh et al. reported about the factors affecting thinness among school children of Purba Medinipur, West Bengal and found that the prevalence of
thinness was lower among boys compared to girls. The study also shows that parents education, fathers occupation, sanitation, number of living room and
illness were significantly associated with thinness among them.
The study on health status of the rural children of Purulia, West Bengal, India by Ghosh and Chatterjee shows poor health status of the children
irrespective of economic status. The study shows that lack of diet related knowledge of the parents is the primary cause for their poor health status.
In chapter twelve Ghosh and Bose discuss about the interrelationship between malnutrition and childhood infections. The study reports that malnutrition as a result of disordered nutrient assimilation increase
susceptibility to infections in children through impaired immunity.
We sincerely acknowledge all contributing authors for their valuable contribution, because their expertise and insights will be very helpful to the interested readers as well as researchers working on childhood malnutrition.
The theme and the content of the book may also be of interest to a number of academic disciplines including biological anthropology, public health, epidemiology, paediatrics, nutrition, primary health care and other allied fields.
The authors also express their sincere thanks to NOVA Science Publishers, New York, U.S.A. for their support and kind cooperation, without which the publication of this book would not been possible.
Editors
Dr. Jyoti Ratan Ghosh
Prof. Kaushik Bose