How common is obesity in India? And Why?

HOW COMMON IS OBESITY IN INDIA? And WHY?

Obesity is more common that is believed. It is becoming common in not only adults but also in children all over the world.

OBESITY IN CHILDREN

OBESITY IN ADULTS

Among the Indian adults too, overweight status among the women increased from 10.6% to 12.6% from 1999 to 2005.This increase was doubled to 40% in urban areas in less than 10 years.

OBESITY IN INDIAN STATES – National Family Health Survey, 2007

Rural population  show a rapid change with nearly 8.6-fold increase in obesity in the past 14 years.

WHY THE INCREASE IN OBESITY IN INDIA?

As to why is obesity becoming more prevalent, living conditions in rural areas have improved remarkably. Transport, medical attention, improved food habits, increased educational status, and rise in family income have augmented with easy access to city and television and contributed to life style modification.

Sedentary life style is significantly associated with obesity in both sexes, compared with non obese men and women. Obesity, overweight, and central obesity and sedentary behavior coexist along with under nutrition in major cities in India.


HOW TO PREVENT OBESITY

Programs with only diet regimen can induce weight loss over a short term. To maintain this lowered weight is not easy by diet alone. 

One needs to throw in some form of exercise as well to achieve this. 

To make this last, a change of life style is desired. 

Long term weight loss success is achieved in 2-20% of patients, with the above.

The most effective way of permanent weight loss is by  bariatric surgery.There is weight loss of 14-25% in 10 years.  With surgery, the mortality due to obesity  is reduced by 29%.