A very common phrase “the longer the belt, the shorter the life span” means excess weight is dangerous. It involves inconvenience and also decreases the efficiency of the person, besides subjecting the heart to undue stress. The recent skyrocketing rates of obesity worldwide have resulted in the subsequent enculturation of “obesity”. Obesity and overweight is closely related to each other's where overweight indicated as a health hazard since statistical data shows that obese persons risk a number of diseases such as coronary atherosclerosis, hypertension and psychological disorders. Towards overweight and obesity, experiences are greatly varied per country, community and individual where it is culturally entrenched and any hopes of dealing with the health consequences should begin with cultural patterns and perceptions, including how obesity is internalized by society. With above thought Anthropology with its holistic nature and ability to merge multiple paradigms is paramount for the study of overweight, its impact on multiple levels and its historical and global causes. The objective of the book is to illustrate the overweight trend among tribal population of India and its associated disease as well as responsible factors of overweight and obesity among tribal population. This book is not for experts and specialised in this subject. It is not meant that it can't be used as a standard reference for obesity. Some major and minor aspects were included to illustrate overweight and obesity for an individual calls for attention. Some of these include age sex, BMI, food habit, socio-cultural and economic background, mental and emotional state nature of work. Individuals like and dislike towards foods climatic/ environmental condition, genetic factors with special reference to tribe of Bastar.

Dr. Swapan Kumar Kolay born in 1966 at Midnapur, West Bengal. He obtained M.Sc. with first class in Physical/ Biological Anthropology (1992) and Ph.D. (1999) from the University of Sagar, M.P. He has done Post Graduate Diploma in Rural Development from Indira Gandhi National Open University, New Delhi. Dr. Kolay got both Doctoral & Post- Doctoral Research Fellowship from Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Govt. of India, New Delhi. His worked with Cultural Research Institute, Kolkata; A. N. Sinha Institute of Social Studies, Patna; Department of Anthropology, University of Delhi and Indian Institute of Forest Management, Bhopal. He has rich research experience in conducting Tribal development, Tribal health and Natural resource management based research on 25 different tribes in 18 states in India. At present he is Associate Professor  & Head, School of Anthropology and Tribal Studies; Additional Deputy Registrar and Ex-Dean of Student Welfare, Bastar University, Chhattisgarh. He can be reached on kolay.swapan@gmail.com

Mrs. Sushila D. Mahant is specialized in plant ecology and Environment Science. She is also Post-graduate M.Sc. in Anthropology and secure first class first (Gold Medel) and done Post Graduate Diploma in Rural Development from C.V. Raman University, Bilaspur (C.G.). Mrs. Sushila has participated in National and International level seminars/workshops and published more than 7 research based articles in different National and International journals. At present she is doing Ph.D. She can be reached on asthamahanta@yahoo.in

Ms. Deepika Thakur Post-graduate M.Sc. in Anthropology and secure first class from Bastar University, Jagdalpur (C.G.). Ms. Deepika has participated in National and International level seminars/workshops.