Nutritional status is an important index of economic growth and development. The status of nutrition of a given population has positively or negatively influenced nation's economic growth. Our study was designed to find out the relationship between socio-demographic characteristics and nutritional status among adult Sabars. The present cross-sectional study was conducted at six villages under Ranibandh block of Bankura District, West Bengal. A total 226 adults (males = 111 and females = 115) Sabars, aged above 18 years in these village were included in the study. The mean (SD) values of age, family members, family income per month, and per-capita income were 37.32 (16.62) years, 4.63 (1.85) members, 2725.2 (1424.3) Rupees, 691.58 (545.32) Rupees, respectively. The prevalence of illiteracy was 45.0% and 82.6%, respectively among males and females. There was a statistically significant (Chi-square = 39.67, p < 0.001) difference between two sexes. Among males more than 65.8% were daily wage laborers. Among females collection of products was the main occupation (28.7%). The frequency of use of drinking water from tube well, tap and well were 79.2%, 11.1% and 4.4%, respectively. The mean (SD) height, weight, mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) and (body mass index (BMI) of the subjects were 159.88 (5.93) cm, 49.6 (7.42) kg, 28.38 (7.83) cm and 19.4 (2.59) kg/m 2, respectively, among males. The mean (SD) height, weight, MUAC and BMI among females were 1148.9 (5.04) cm, 40.1 (5.88) kg, 22.9 (2.34) cm and 18.0 (2.30) kg/m 2 , respectively. All mean values were higher among men. The rates of under nutrition were higher (60.0%) among the illiterate group than the literate group (37.0%) based on BMI. Likewise, based on MUAC, the rates of under nutrition were higher (41.4%) among illiterates compared to literates. The prevalence of under nutrition based on BMI and MUAC was high according to the World Health Organization (WHO) guideline, indicating critical nutritional situation. To reduce the nutritional stress among this ethnic group, immediate appropriate nutritional intervention programes should be initiated. Serious efforts are needed to increase their educational status and per-capita income.

The tribal population in India, as per 2011 census is 104.3 million, constituting 8.6% of the total population. Overall, 89.97% of them live in rural areas. Nutrition has been a major health issue in India for centuries. Chronic hunger and under-nutrition are the worst tribulation of the poverty that still plagues millions of tribal households in India. The objective of this study was to assess the anthropometric characteristics and nutritional status of the population. The present cross-sectional study was carried out at 2 blocks (Debra and Dantan II) of Paschim Medinipur District, West Bengal, India. A total 392 adults (Female= 207; Male= 185) Ho tribal people were included in this study. The mean (SD) value of height (cm), weight (kg), mid-upper arm circumference [MUAC (cm)], body mass index [BMI (kg/m2)] was higher among males 159.68 (5.64), 54.53 (8.00), 24.79 (2.56) and 21.37 (2.85) respectively, than females 149.16 (5.42), 46.01 (7.98), 22.00 (2.76) and 20.65 (3.19). These values were statistically significant (p<0.0001). Based on MUAC, the prevalence of undernutrition was higher among females (55.6%) than males (26.5%) and this was statistically significant (p<0.001). However, based on BMI, the prevalence of undernutrition was higher among females (27.5%) than males (16.8%), which was statistically significant (p<0.05) also. According to WHO classification of chronic energy deficiency (CED), the rate of under nutrition indicated a serious situation. Thus, to reduce the nutritional stress among this ethnic group, appropriate nutritional intervention programmes are needed to be initiated.