Jaazbat News Network
Obesity is a chronic complex disease defined by excessive fat deposits that can impair health. Obesity can lead to increased risk of type 2 diabetes and heart disease, it can affect bone health and reproduction, it increases the risk of certain cancers. Obesity influences the quality of living, such as sleeping or moving.
The diagnosis of overweight and obesity is made by measuring people’s weight and height and by calculating the body mass index (BMI): weight (kg)/height² (m²). The body mass index is a surrogate marker of fatness and additional measurements, such as the waist circumference, can help the diagnosis of obesity.
It is a health challenge now in India too.
Obesity in India has reached epidemic proportions in the 21st century, with morbid obesity affecting 5% of the country's population. India is following a trend of other developing countries that are steadily becoming more obese. Unhealthy, processed food has become much more accessible following India's continued integration in global food markets. This, combined with rising middle class incomes, is increasing the average caloric intake per individual among middle class and high income households.
According to a recent cross-sectional study of more than 100,000 individuals conducted by the ICMR, (ICMR -INDITAB-17) the prevalence of generalized obesity was 28.6% and abdominal obesity 39.5%. In a published study lead by the author in 6 districts of Kashmir valley its prevalence in the rural population was 26% in men and 30% in women.
Obesity is definitely becoming a major health challenge of our times.
