Evaluation of physical fitness and weight status among fisherwomen in relation to their occupational workload

Pallav Sengupta; Elzbieta Krajewska-Kulak

doi:10.1016/j.jegh.2014.03.005

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Volume 4, Issue 4, December 2014, Pages 261 - 268

Evaluation of physical fitness and weight status among fisherwomen in relation to their occupational workload

Authors

Pallav Sengupta^a^{, *}^,pallav_cu@yahoo.com, Elzbieta Krajewska-Kulak^b^,elzbieta.krajewska@wp.pl

^aDepartment of Physiology, Vidyasagar College for Women, University of Calcutta, Kolkata, West Bengal, India

^bDepartment of Integrated Medical Care, Medical University of Bialystok, Poland

^*Corresponding author. Address: Department of Physiology, Vidyasagar College for Women, University of Calcutta, 39, Sankar Ghosh Lane, Kolkata 700 006, West Bengal, India. Tel.: +91 33 22418887.

Corresponding Author

Pallav Senguptapallav_cu@yahoo.com

Received 26 September 2013, Revised 15 March 2014, Accepted 21 March 2014, Available Online 30 April 2014.

DOI: 10.1016/j.jegh.2014.03.005 How to use a DOI?
Keywords: Physical fitness; Harvard step test; Anaerobic power; Body fat; Visakhapatnam
Abstract: 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), VO_2max, 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.
Copyright: © 2014 Ministry of Health, Saudi Arabia. Published by Elsevier Ltd.
Open Access: This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).

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Journal: Journal of Epidemiology and Global Health
Volume-Issue: 4 - 4
Pages: 261 - 268
Publication Date: 2014/04/30
ISSN (Online): 2210-6014
ISSN (Print): 2210-6006
DOI: 10.1016/j.jegh.2014.03.005 How to use a DOI?
Open Access: This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).

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ris enw bib

TY  - JOUR
AU  - Pallav Sengupta
AU  - Elzbieta Krajewska-Kulak
PY  - 2014
DA  - 2014/04/30
TI  - Evaluation of physical fitness and weight status among fisherwomen in relation to their occupational workload
JO  - Journal of Epidemiology and Global Health
SP  - 261
EP  - 268
VL  - 4
IS  - 4
SN  - 2210-6014
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jegh.2014.03.005
DO  - 10.1016/j.jegh.2014.03.005
ID  - Sengupta2014
ER  -

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