Somatotype and body fat distribution among the slum residents in Guwahati, Assam: Implications for health risks

Urban slums are characterized by informal settlements, poor living conditions and inadequate access to basic amenities. Poverty remains the largest structural determinant of health, with an increasing concentration of economically disadvantaged populations in urban areas. The present study aims to evaluate the somatotype and body fat percentage of adult inhabitants living in the urban slums of Guwahati using standardized anthropometric measurements. Assessment of somatotype provides valuable insight into body composition patterns and their potential association with susceptibility to non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in both sexes, thereby facilitating early risk identification. A total of 1,078 adults of 1860 years of age participated in the study. They were from eight slum settlements in Guwahati, representing a heterogeneous population comprising speakers of Bihari, Bengali, Assamese, and Punjabi, along with a small proportion of Telugu-speaking individuals. Anthropometric assessments included linear dimensions, circumferences (girth measurements), skinfold thicknesses, and skeletal breadths. Somatotype classification of the participants was performed using the HeathCarter method and analysed with R Statistical Software. The findings indicate that the maximum stature recorded among both males and females residing in the Guwahati slums was higher than the reported average adult height for the state of Assam. Endomorphic Mesomorph as the most prevalent somatotype indicating higher muscle and fat components with greater risk of obesity and metabolic disorders. The inhabitants face risks associated with both their somatotype and their fat percentage. Age-related declines in physical activity collectively may be is contributing to increased adiposity among the slum residents. Educating the slum residents may play a significant role in helping to understand about their overall health and active lifestyle.