Assessment-based nutritional status and dietary patterns of self-help group women in North Chennai: A cross-sectional analysis

ABSTRACT Background: Nutritional assessment is essential for identifying diet- and lifestyle-related risks among women in low-income urban communities. Women participating in self-help groups (SHGs) represent a socially active population, yet evidence focusing exclusively on their baseline nutritional status remains limited. Objective: To assess the nutritional status, dietary patterns, lifestyle characteristics, and associated metabolic risk indicators among SHG women in North Chennai using anthropometric, clinical, and dietary assessment tools. Materials and Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 150 SHG women aged 30–50 years selected through random sampling from an urban SHG association in North Chennai. Data collection included sociodemographic profiling, lifestyle assessment, anthropometric measurements (height, weight, body mass index, waist circumference [WC]), blood pressure recording, and dietary assessment using a food frequency questionnaire and a 3-day food record. Nutrient intake was compared with recommended dietary allowances, and inferential statistics were used to examine associations between nutritional indicators. Results: The mean age of participants was 41.26 ± 6.9 years. A high prevalence of overweight and obesity was observed, with a mean body mass index (BMI) of 27.21 ± 5.44 kg/m 2 . Mean WC values indicated an increase in adiposity. Dietary assessment revealed excessive intake of energy, carbohydrates, fats, and protein, while iron intake was significantly below the ICMR reference values ( P < 0.001). Meal skipping, low dietary diversity, and sedentary behavior were common. Significant positive correlations were observed between BMI and WC ( r = 0.84), systolic blood pressure ( r = 0.25), diastolic blood pressure ( r = 0.25), and energy intake ( r = 0.27). Conclusion: The findings indicate a dual burden of overnutrition and inadequate dietary iron intake among SHG women in North Chennai. The assessment highlights the need for early screening, dietary diversification, and targeted preventive strategies within community platforms such as SHGs.