Co-existence of stunting, undernutrition, overweight, obesity, and associated chronic diseases are important public health issues in developing countries. The objective of the present study was to evaluate height and BMI-based nutritional status among adults and to use a new Composite Nutritional Burden Model (CNBM) to estimate a composite index of anthropometric failure. A cross-sectional study was done among adults (1,283 men, 1,184 women) aged 20 to 59 years at Naxalbari in Darjeeling, West Bengal. Height and weight were measured, body mass index (BMI) has been calculated. Short height was estimated as height <165 cm and <150 cm in men and women respectively. BMI-based nutritional status (thinness, normal, overweight, and obesity) has been evaluated. The CNBM was used to classify individual and combined rates of short height, thinness, overweight, and obesity. Composite Index of Nutritional Burden or CINB (100% minus no failure) has been estimated. Significant sex differences have been observed with respect to age (men 41.37 years, women 37.26 years), height (men 162.21 cm, women 151.02 cm), body weight (63.14 kg, women 50.24 kg), and BMI (men 23.96 kg/m2, women 22.0 kg/m2). Prevalence of BMI-based thinness (men 22.9%, women 32.18%), overweight (men 14.88%, women 14.78%), and obesity (men 22.66%, women 10.14%) were remarkable in the sample. Estimated CINB was 73.99% (men 74.38%, women 73.56%). CNBM was found to be an effective measure to estimate levels of malnutrition due to short height and its coexistence with BMI-based thinness and excess weight that can be used in adults.