Purpose: Present study was designed to investigate the rate and magnitude of age-associated changes of body fat percentage (PBF) of 12 to 17 years old school going girls belong to schedule tribe of West Bengal.

Methodology: A total of 595 school-going girls were selected randomly for the present study from different secondary schools of Paschim Midnapur and Bankura districts. Among them 283 were from schedule tribe and 312 were from general community. Body Fat Percentage (PBF) was considered as criterion in this study. Standard skinfold caliper and AAHPARD equation was used to calculate the PBF of the subjects. Single group design was formed for the present study. Mean value and standard deviation were computed for each parameter as descriptive statistics and comparison between general girls was done using t-test. Only 0.05 level of significance was considered for the present study.

Results: Result revealed continues development of PBF throughout the pubescent period and the rate of magnitude was higher at 13-14 yrs age for tribal girls and for general girls magnitude of increase in PBF was higher for 15-16 yrs. When mean value of PBF of tribal girls was compared with general girls it was found that mean values of PBF were always lower level for tribal girls throughout the pubescent period. The mean difference of PBF between tribal and general girls was significantly differ for the age of 16 yrs but the differences were not significant for other age span.

Conclusion: From the above findings it was concluded that the PBF developed throughout the pubescent period among tribal girls and rate development was higher for 13-14 yrs span. The development rate of PBF was always lower level when it compared with general girls of same age group.