Global Journal of Medical Research, L: Nutrition & Food Science, Volume 22 Issue 2

Table-5: BMI and body fat percentage of the auto-rickshaw drivers (n=157) 42 Year 2022 Global Journal of Medical Research Volume XXII Issue II Version I ( D ) L © 2022 Global Journals Assessment of Body Mass Index (BMI) and General Health Status of Male Auto-Rickshaw Drivers in Garia, Kolkata In table-4, according to the outcomes of the binomial tests, a significant number of auto-rickshaw drivers have good appearance, normal angles of mouth, normal tongue colour, normal gum, no fluorosis in teeth, normal hair condition, normal skin appearance, no oedema, and no pallor. However, the binomial test results, in table-4, also show that the number of auto- rickshaw drivers, having teeth with caries, is significant. In table-5, as per the results of the binomial tests, a significant number of auto-rickshaw drivers have BMI in or above the normal range (18.50 kg/m 2 – 24.99 kg/m 2 ), and normal or higher than normal body fat percentage. IV. D iscussions The following inferences can be drawn from tables- 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5: • A significant number (66.2%) of auto-rickshaw drivers, attached to the Garia Southern Avenue auto-rickshaw stand, work for a long time. • A significant number of drivers are addicted to tobacco (both smoking (96.2%) and chewing (66.2%) forms), but not alcohol. • A significant number (63.7%) of drivers own the auto-rickshaw; this fact indicates that the economic condition of a significant number of drivers is not bad (it is a qualitative idea). • A significant number of drivers enjoy good health (except the occurrence of caries) (as per the general clinical assessment), in spite of having long working hours. This is most probably because of their not-so-bad economic condition which allows them to get sufficient food of acceptable quality. • A significant number of drivers have normal or higher than normal BMI (80.9%) and body fat percentage (99.4%). Thus, there is a possibility that a significant number of drivers is either overweight/obese currently, or likely to become overweight/obese in the near future. This is most probably because of their not-so-bad economic condition (as stated above), and also the nature of their occupation (which demands the drivers to remain in sitting position for a long time). Hence, this study shows that a significant number of auto-rickshaw drivers, attached to the Garia Southern Avenue auto-rickshaw stand, have not-very- bad economic condition, and enjoy good health (except the occurrence of caries), despite long hours of work, and addiction to tobacco; and, a significant majority of them are either overweight/obese currently, or likely to become overweight/obese in the near future. Now, it will be prudent to take a look at the findings of some of the other researchers working on auto-rickshaw drivers. Yesurajan et al. found that smoking, alcohol abuse, and obesity are some of the common health risk factors of the auto-rickshaw drivers of Madurai (5); in the current study, however, alcohol abuse is not a problem for a significant number of drivers (only 14.6% have been found to consume alcohol). Gupta et al. undertook a study on the auto- rickshaw drivers of Mumbai, and found that only 15% of the study population are smokers (6); in contrast, I have found that a significant number (96.2%) of auto-rickshaw drivers are addicted to smoking. Chougule et al. worked on the auto-rickshaw drivers of Kolhapur, and found that most of them enjoy good health (7); this finding is similar to what I have observed in the current work. The study of Debbarma et al. on the auto- rickshaw drivers of Agartala, shows that majority of the study population (73.81%) were suffering from caries (8); I have also found that a significant number (63.1%) of auto-rickshaw drivers have teeth with caries. Jain et al. conducted research on the auto- rickshaw drivers of Gwalior, and found that among the study population, prevalence of overweight was 26 % and central obesity was 6% (9); on the contrary, in the current study, the results indicate that a significant number of drivers are either overweight/obese currently, or likely to become overweight/obese in the near future. V. C onclusions This study has attempted to assess the BMI and the general health status of the auto-rickshaw drivers, attached to the Garia Southern Avenue auto- rickshaw stand, by collecting data regarding duration of work, nature of addiction, ownership pattern, general clinical status, BMI and body fat percentage, of the auto-rickshaw drivers. From the results of the binomial Status Yes No p1 BMI (in kg/m 2 ) in or above normal range (18.50-24.99) 127 (80.9%) 30 (19.1%) 1.0328X10 -17 Normal or higher than normal body fat percentage (body fat percentage data have been collected using body fat analyser) 156 (99.4%) 1 (0.6%) 0