Background: The paper attempted to travel along the life of Kerala women picking up elements that are relevant to a health study. The indicators considered in this paper can be broadly categorized as those reflecting the nutritional status, physiological health and fitness profile of working women and house wives.
Methodology: This study involved 20 working women and 20 house wives, aged 25-55 years, residents of Thodupuzha in Kerala. The data was collected using questionnaire; anthropometric assessment, nutritional assessment, life style pattern, physical fitness components through flexibility tests and physiological profile were also recorded.
Results : While comparing the psychological profile working women are having more stress than house wives and most of them are diabetic(20%) and hypertensive(40%).With regard to adiposity, most of the housewives were found to put on more body fat(40%) and particularly with a large waistline(40%).With respect to frequency of consumption of various foods, homemakers were found to have significantly more of sweets(p<0.05) similarly there was a significant difference (p<0.05) in the consumption of fast foods and processed foods between the two groups. Psychological profile of working women also proved that they faced more stress and of course most of them had diabetes and hypertension too. With regard to adiposity, most of the housewives tend to put on more weight and particularly they had large waistline. With respect to frequency of consumption of various foods, homemakers were found to have significantly more of sweets, fast foods and processed foods than the employed women. However, there was surprisingly no difference in their physical fitness components of flexibility between two groups.
Conclusion: Â On the whole the present study suggests whether employed or homemaker did not have any difference in their physical fitness components and certainly requires an intensive insight into their physical, mental and social health.
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