Obesity reducing life expectancy in India, caution doctors

 HYDERABAD: Obesity is a problem that plagues millions of people the world over. Body weight gain because of the present day lifestyle is seen across all economic groups, irrespective of age and gender.

Experts caution that excess body weight is a medical problem and unless controlled, obesity can adversely impact various organs of the body and lead to serious illnesses and reduce life expectancy.

Obesity and severity are based on BMI (body mass index) and takes into account the person's height and body weight. For instance, BMI 25 kg/m2 to 30 kg/m2 is considered overweight. If it exceeds 30kg/m2, it is considered obese.

Echoing the sentiments of doctors on World Obesity Day, senior endocrinologist Dr Sandeep Reddy said, “It is estimated that around 135 million Indians are affected by obesity and overweight. This represents a significant increase from previous years and is largely attributed to changing lifestyles, unhealthy eating habits and lack of physical activity. It is expected that around 31 per cent of urban Indians are overweight or obese, while the figure for rural areas is around 12 per cent.”

Obesity is a major risk factor for a range of health problems, including diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and some cancers, he points out.

He said that in India, an estimated 77 million people are living with diabetes and around 50 million suffer from cardiovascular diseases.

It is because of genetic reasons that more Indians are prone to obesity, particularly large amounts of fat around the waist.

Other factors that are increasing body weight problems include consuming food that provides more calories than needed, lack of physical activity, endocrine disorders (diseases of the endocrine glands), mental illnesses, and certain types of drugs. Dietary habits, lack of adequate sleep, and heavy reliance on vehicles also contribute to weight gain.