Body Mass Index among Adult Women and National Food Security Act: A District Level Analysis in West Bengal

Abstract

The current National Family Health Survey conducted in 2019-20 (NFHS-5) revealed that women malnutrition is a great challenging problem in India and it is a severe problem to the women of West Bengal due to a poor position in body mass index (BMI). In 2013, the Government of India initiated National Food Securities Act -2013 for improvement of nutritional status, especially women and targeted children. A comparison of the two national – level data Women body mass is marginally improved as per NFHS-5 compare to previous survey i.e., NFHS-4 in West Bengal and regional disparity has significantly declined. Women in economically backward districts have benefited more than women in economically advanced districts in West Bengal from the benefit of NFSA. Women body mass depends on the women’s level of education and purchasing power of household and how much nutritious food they are able to purchase.