35-50 percent of women in Telangana are abdominally obese

Based on The Lancet analysis, prevalence of abdominal obesity is high to very high across all the Southern States.

Hyderabad: Women in Telangana State are more vulnerable to chronic illnesses like diabetes, hypertension and diseases related to heart, kidneys and strokes than their counterparts in northern India due to high prevalence of abdominal obesity.

The prevalence of abdominal obesity among women in the state is between 35 per cent and 50 per cent. This means that out of 100 women aged between 30 years and 49 years, 35 per cent to 50 per cent are abdominally obese. Such a high percentage of abdominal obesity is also a clear indication of lack of physical activity among women.

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“Physical inactivity is highest amongst the South Indian population (72 per cent), making South India more vulnerable to obesity and subsequently to chronic illnesses. The rural economy is undergoing an economic transition and has resulted in withdrawal of significant proportion of female work force from economic activity. This also indicates the possibility of decreased physical activity in women, particularly in rural areas,” a study titled ‘Abdominal obesity in India: analysis of the National Family Health Survey-5’ published in The Lancet (May, 2023), said.

Based on The Lancet analysis, prevalence of abdominal obesity is high to very high across all the Southern States. The range of prevalence of abdominal obesity among women varies from 35 per cent to more than 50 per cent in the entire South India.

“Reduced physical activity owing to organised work and mechanised transport, particularly for the wealthier sections of the society, has led to the adoption of a sedentary lifestyle. Consumption of fat-rich diet is one of the factors that explain the higher prevalence of abdominal obesity in the wealthier sections. As per a research study, higher income groups consumed a diet where 32 per cent of energy was derived from fat, while for the lower-income groups, only 17 per cent of energy was derived from fat,” the researchers in the The Lancet study said.

Quite surprisingly, the abdominal obesity prevalence among men, when compared to women is quite low. Overall, the prevalence of abdominal obesity in the country is 40 per cent in women and just 12 per cent in men.

“The association of abdominal obesity in women is stronger with older age groups, urban residents, wealthier sections, and non-vegetarians. Abdominal obesity is also on the rise in rural areas and is penetrating lower and middle socioeconomic sections of society,” the study said.

Vital findings on abdominal obesity:

• 35 to 50% of women in Telangana have high abdominal obesity
• If waist circumference of women is more than 80 cm, then they are abdominally obese

• In men, those with more than 94 cm of waist are abdominally obese
• 5 to 6 women out of 10 between 30 years and 49 years in TS are abdominally obese

• Prevalence of abdominal obesity is very high among women in Southern India
• Throughout India, 40% of women and 12% of men are abdominally obese

• Abdominal obesity among women sets in during 30 and 49 years
• Prevalence of abdominal obesity higher in older age groups and urban residents for both men and women