The present study focuses on the height, weight, and body mass index (BMI) of the adults ( 15-49 age group) in Kashmiri and Gujar communities of South Kashmir - J&K, estimating the prevalence and severity of thinness and overweight in this population and to pronounce the association of BMI with education, age and income .The design of the study is cross sectional representative survey of 1538 adults (860 men and 678 women).The main findings depicts mean height, weight, and BMI were 165.0 cm, 56.7 kg, and 20.82 kg/m2 for men (Kashmiris) and 160.3 cm,49.5 kg and 19.26 Kg/m2 (Gujars), while as 152.0 cm, 50.8 kg, and 21.98 kg/m2 for Kashmiri women and 151 cm,42.4 kg, and 18.5 kg/m2 for Gujars women respectively. 11% of men and 15% women were thin/underweight (BMI<18.5 kg/m2) in Kashmiri community, while as 24% of men and 30% of women are thin/underweight among Gujars community as compared overweight (BMI>25kg/m2 only 15% Kashmiri males and 19 % women are overweight The gujars depict a different story in overweight with 9 % and 4 % respectively. The analyses showed that age, level of education, income levels and smoking habits are independently associated with BMI. It is concluded that sequelae of underweight / thinness and overweight represent major health problems.
