What question did this study set out to answer?

The review aims to synthesize evidence on the nutritional status of adult tribal populations in India, focusing on chronic energy deficiency (CED) as assessed by body mass index (BMI).

May 10, 2026Open Access

Anthropology of Undernutrition Among Indian Tribal Adults: A Comprehensive Review

Key Points

The review aims to synthesize evidence on the nutritional status of adult tribal populations in India, focusing on chronic energy deficiency (CED) as assessed by body mass index (BMI).
Conducted a systematic literature search from 2010 to 2024 using Google Scholar, PubMed, and JSTOR.
Included studies reporting BMI-based nutritional assessments according to WHO classification.
Analyzed 44 studies, summarizing data by region, tribe, sex, and CED prevalence.
Significant regional and sex-based disparities in CED; Northern and Northeastern groups showed very low (≤2%) to very high (90.7%) rates.
Eastern tribal populations had consistently high CED rates, often exceeding 50% among women.
Southern populations, such as Jenu Kuruba, showed over 90% CED prevalence, compounding issues with anaemia and other health burdens.

Abstract

This review aimed to synthesize evidence from 2010–2024 on the nutritional status of adult tribal populations in India, with a focus on Chronic Energy Deficiency (CED) as assessed by Body Mass Index (BMI). Given the persistent health disparities among India’s Scheduled Tribes (STs), the study sought to examine geographic patterns, sex differentials, and contextual determinants of undernutrition across major tribal regions of the country. A systematic literature search was conducted using Google Scholar, PubMed, and JSTOR to identify peer-reviewed studies on adult tribal nutrition in India published between 2010 and 2024. National datasets—including the Census of India (2011) and the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5, 2019–2021)—were used to provide demographic and health context. Eligible studies reported BMI-based nutritional assessments using the WHO (1995) BMI classification (CED defined as BMI 90%), while island populations such as the Shompens exhibited low CED but high anaemia burdens. NFHS-5 corroborated these findings, indicating serious national-level CED prevalence among ST adults (18.4% in men, 25.5% in women). Across regions, coexisting burdens of anaemia, tuberculosis, hemoglobinopathies (e.g., sickle cell disease), leprosy, and vector-borne diseases further compounded poor nutritional status. Adult tribal populations in India experience disproportionately high levels of CED, shaped by intersecting structural and cultural determinants including poverty, geographic isolation, gender inequality, food insecurity, and limited access to health services. The wide regional variability underscores the need for targeted, culturally informed, region-specific nutritional interventions. Strengthening surveillance, improving healthcare accessibility, and promoting community-engaged, bottom-up health strategies are essential for reducing disparities and achieving national commitments to the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly the mandate to “Leave no one behind”.

Bookmark

View Full Paper

Cite This Study

Kaushik et al. (Thu,) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a002126c8f74e3340f9bfb3 https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.70322/natanthropol.2026.10006

Bookmark

View Full Paper