Publication:

A study on trans generational anthropometric patterns and its epidemiological determinants among females in Thrissur district

Background As the global burden of non-communicable is increasing, people are falling prey to metabolic diseases due to incorporation of unhealthy lifestyle in daily life. Assessing anthropometric measurements of mothers and daughters helps to identify non-communicable diseases such as type 2 diabetes mellitus, obesity, cardiovascular diseases at an early stage. This study assesses the transgenerational anthropometric patterns and epidemiological determinants in females in Thrissur district and compare the anthropometric patterns between mothers and daughters.

Methods A cross sectional study was conducted between mothers and daughters in Thrissur district, Kerala, March 2020 to May 2022. Systemic random sampling technique was used and 92 daughters and their mothers were included in the study. Data was collected using an interviewer-administered questionnaire consisting of socio demographic variables, anthropometric measurements, physical activity and nutritional assessment.

Results The mean height, weight and other anthropometric measurements of both mothers and daughters were found to be very close to each other. Sedentary lifestyle such as no exercise habit, low duration of exercise, spending greater screen time hours, consuming less than 3 meals/day was observed. A significant association exists with daughters’ waist circumference with the mothers’ (p value =0.002), waist height ratio of daughters’ with mothers’ (p value =0.009) and waist hip ratio (p value =0.032).

Conclusions The study concluded that correlation between mother’s and daughter’s BMI are not statistically significant. It was also observed that mothers anthropometric pattern (except BMI) play a vital role in daughter’s anthropometric patterns.