Dimensions of muslim women health and livelihood conditions – A case study of Kumbakonam town, Tamil Nadu, India

Urban Indian women aged 35 and above are victim of health risks due to sedentary lifestyles, rich food and lack of exercise. Obesity is increasing at an alarming rate throughout the world. It is estimated that there are more than 300 million obese people worldwide. Automation has replaced most of the women's household works. According to All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India, reveals that 50 per cent of women and 40 per cent of men aged 35 and above are overweight and it leads to chronic heart diseases, diabetes and high blood pressure. Overweight and obesity are the major cause for the ill-health of Muslim women. The aim and objectives are: to analyze the socio-economic and demographic background; to estimate the livelihood conditions and dietary habits and to discuss the health status and health problems. Kumbakonam was chosen as the study area to investigate the Muslim women health and livelihood conditions. There is an urgent need to impress upon the need for developing physical health among Muslim women. Considerably, the Muslim populations were living in Kumbakonam Town as well as surrounding regions. The data were collected from the 400 respondents by questionnaire survey and transformed into SPSS. As much as 55 Variables were drawn from the data structure possibly covering socio-economic, demographic, environmental, diet survey and anthropometric measurements (BMI and Waist to Hip Ratio) based on random sampling procedure. Factor analysis was employed and six most important dimensions are drawn to facilitate easy interpretation of variables. The present study, Socio-economic conditions, Physical inactivity, Dietary habits, Health risks, Physical constraints and mental stress are the major influencing dimensions of Muslim women health in Kumbakonam Town. According to BMI 19.5 per cent were overweight 26.0 per cent of them were under risk of obese conditions. Waist to Hip Ratio shows that and 98.8 per cent of them were at high risk. Eighty per cent of them were eating non-vegetarian food four times in a week. 84.7 per cent were having health problems and 81.5 per cent of women were started to tackle the health problems.