Body Mass Index and Blood Pressure among Men of Three Ethnic Groups of Darjeeling, West Bengal, India

This study was undertaken from 2009-2011 to understand the association between body mass index (BMI) and blood pressure (BP) (systolic or SBP and diastolic or DBP) among randomly chosen men, aged 30 to 59 years, of three endogamous communities in Darjeeling, West Bengal, India: Dhimal (n = 88), Mech (n = 71), and Rajbanshi (n = 83). Analysis of variance was applied. Remarkable rates of BMI-based undernutrition (chronic energy deficiency or CED) were recorded among Dhimals (31%) and Rajbanshis (18%). Notable prevalence of overweight (20%) was recorded among men of Mech community. None were found to be obese in three samples. Mean SBP and DBP were found to rise consistently at levels of BMI (undernutrition, normal, and overweight). BMI was observed to rise consistently at levels of blood pressures (normotensive, prehypertensive, and hypertensive). Among Mech, this pattern was found to be more conspicuous. DBP was found to be more sensitive with changes of BMI in men.