Minority Health and Health Equity Archive

Permanent URI for this collectionhttp://hdl.handle.net/1903/21769

Welcome to the Minority Health and Health Equity Archive (MHHEA), an electronic archive for digital resource materials in the fields of minority health and health disparities research and policy. It is offered as a no-charge resource to the public, academic scholars and health science researchers interested in the elimination of racial and ethnic health disparities.

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2011 - 20146

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Author: search.filters.author.Sengupta , P

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    A Small-scale Cross-sectional Study for the Assessment of Cardiorespiratory Fitness in Relation to Body Composition and Morphometric Characters in Fishermen of Araku Valley, Andhra Pradesh, India
    (2014) Sengupta , P
    BACKGROUND: The people residing in coastal areas of Visakhapatnam are mostly engaged in fishery, which is always been a physically demanding job, and numerous factors have direct or indirect impact on the health of fishermen; but, the data about their physical fitness or health status is quite scanty. Thus, the present study was conducted to assess their cardiorespiratory fitness pattern, as well as morphometric characters, which may be influenced by their occupation. METHODS: In this retrospective cohort study, 25 young fishermen (mean age of 22.8 ± 1.92 years) were randomly selected from Araku valley of Visakhapatnam District, Andhra Pradesh and compared with 25 subjects who were randomly selected from college students (mean age of 21.9 ± 2.25 years) of Kolkata, West Bengal. Some physical and physiological fitness variables including height, weight, body mass index, body surface area, physical fitness index, anaerobic power, and energy expenditure were measured along with their morphometric characters. RESULTS: Analysis of data indicated a significant difference in blood pressure, physical fitness index, energy expenditure, body fat percent and anaerobic power among fishermen compared to controls. However, there were no changes in morphometric characters between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Findings of this small-scale population-based study indicated that health and physical fitness of young fishermen is under the influence of both occupational workload and nutritional status, as found by body composition and morphometric characters.
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    Evaluation of physical fitness and weight status among fisherwomen in relation to their occupational workload
    (2014) Sengupta , P
    BACKGROUND: Fisherwomen contribute significantly to the coastal economy of Eastern India; however, data about their physical fitness and weight status are scant. OBJECTIVES: The present cross-sectional study was designed to investigate cardiorespiratory fitness and weight status of fisherwomen, which may be influenced by their occupational workload, using morphometric and anthropometric measures. METHODS: The study was conducted among young fisherwomen (mean age 23.7 years) randomly selected from Araku, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, and among young women who are not engaged in the fishing industry but are residents of Araku, who served as controls (mean age 21.3 years). Measurements of body composition included several anthropometric variables, while physical efficiency parameters included a physical fitness index (PFI), VO2max, total energy expenditure, and anaerobic capacity. RESULTS: A significant difference (p<0.05) in body mass index (BMI), body surface area (BSA), body fat percentage, diastolic blood pressure, fitness index, total energy expenditure, and anaerobic power was found in fisherwomen compared with controls. Analysis of collected data showed that the majority of the fisherwomen studied have a normal range of BMI (42%), but 6% of them were found to be mildly overweight. They also showed lower fat mass (13.5 [ ± 3.87]kg) and lower waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) and conicity index. Additionally, they were found to have a moderate level of physical fitness (64.3 [ ± 1.97]%) and a higher total energy expenditure (4.92 [ ± 0.52]k.cal.min(-2)). CONCLUSION: This study implies that physical fitness and weight status of young fisherwomen in Eastern India are influenced by their occupational workload.
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    Health Impacts of Yoga and Pranayama: A State‑of‑the‑Art Review
    (2012) Sengupta , P
    Thousands of years ago yoga originated in India, and in present day and age, an alarming awareness was observed in health and natural remedies among people by yoga and pranayama which has been proven an effective method for improving health in addition to prevention and management of diseases. With increasing scientific research in yoga, its therapeutic aspects are also being explored. Yoga is reported to reduce stress and anxiety, improves autonomic functions by triggering neurohormonal mechanisms by the suppression of sympathetic activity, and even, now‑a‑days, several reports suggested yoga is beneficial for physical health of cancer patients. Such global recognition of yoga also testifies to India’s growing cultural influence.
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    Assessment of Physical Fitness Status of Young Sikkimese Residing in High-Hill Temperate Regions of Eastern Sikkim under the Influence of Climate and Socio-Cultural Factors
    (2011) Sengupta , P
    Objective: The least populated state of India, Sikkim is situated over 6,000 ft as of the sea level. The health of people residing at high altitude is shaped not only by the low-oxygen environment, but also by population ancestry and socio-cultural determinants. These factors may also have an influence over their physical fitness level. Thus the present survey work was designed in order to assess the influence of high altitude on physical fitness and anaerobic power. Material & Methods: The study was conducted in randomly selected young adult male residents of Gangtok, Sikkim (mean age 22.0) and the college students of Kolkata (mean age 21.9) served as controls. Some parameters of physical fitness and endurance were measured using resting heart rate, blood pressure, PFI, energy expenditure, VO2max etc. Results: A significant difference (p<0.05) in blood pressure, PFI, energy expenditure, BF% and anaerobic power were found in Sikkimese. Conclusion: This study implies health of young Sikkimese is not only under the influence of low-oxygen environment but also by their socio-cultural factors over their physical parameters.
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    An Ergonomic Assessment and Fitness Evaluation of Young Male Tea Factory Workers in Dooars, West Bengal
    (2012) Sengupta , P; Sahoo, S
    Introduction: There are very few published reports on the heath status of tea garden workers of West Bengal, while reports on cardiorespiratory fineness and body composition of male tea factory workers is almost scanty. Purpose: The present study was carried out in the Dooars region of the Cooch Behar district, West Bengal to evaluate the physical fitness and morphological characteristics due to the physio-logical workload of respondents engaged in processing of tea leaves in factories within the tea-estates. Materials and methods: A cross sectional study was carried out in 18-25 years’ young male tea-garden workers (n=15) by random selection from Cooch Behar District, West Bengal (mean age 20.1) and college students (n=15) of Kolkata (mean age 21.9), who served as controls. Cardiorespiratory fitness was estimated in terms of maximum oxygen uptake (VO2 max) and physical fitness index (PFI), while morphological characters were estimated by means of physical anthropometric measures. Results: A significant difference in body surface area, body mass index, percentage of body fat (% fat), blood pressure, physical fitness index, energy expenditure, anaerobic power, mean upper arm circumference, thigh circumference, waist circum-ference and buttock circumference were found (p<0.05) in tea garden workers. No significant difference was observed in calf circumference and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR). Conclusions: On the basis of the findings of the present study using morphometric indicators and fitness markers it can be concluded that, the majority of respondents had an ectomorph stature but have good physical fitness level.
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    Evaluation of Health Status of Fishers: Prediction of Cardiovascular Fitness and Anaerobic Power
    (RRP Journals, 2011) Sengupta , P; Sahoo, S
    It is assumed that physically demanding jobs may have a positive influence on the physical parameters of workers. Thus the present study was designed to evaluate the influence of fishery, such an physically demanding occupation on physical fitness and to compare whether fishermen have more cardiovascular fitness, anaerobic power than sedentary population or not. The study was carried out among randomly selected fishermen of coastal, West Bengal (mean age 22.4). A significant difference (p < 0.05) in Blood pressure, PFI, Energy expenditure, body fat% and anaerobic power was found in fishermen. But, in contrast, BSA, BMI, resting heart rate, V.O2 max, upper arm circumference and thigh and calf circumferences were found to be non-significant. This study infers fishermen have more physical fitness (cardiovascular fitness) and muscle mass, but less fat percentage than sedentary population. But with physical strength and cardiovascular fitness more endurance is required for better health of young fishermen.