Abdominal obesity, characterized by excess fat accumulation around the abdomen, poses significant health risks, including diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular diseases. It’s measured by waist circumference and is a growing concern in India. Following Kerala, Tamil Nadu (57.9%), Punjab (62.5%), and Delhi (59%) report similarly high rates, while Jharkhand (23.9%) and Madhya Pradesh (24.9%) show much lower prevalence.

Soumya Swaminathan, former WHO Chief Scientist and current Principal Advisor for the Health Ministry’s tuberculosis program, highlighted that unhealthy diets and physical inactivity are major contributors to this alarming trend. She noted that obesity is a precursor to non-communicable diseases that are increasingly prevalent both in India and globally.

“Abdominal obesity—driven by unhealthy diets and physical inactivity—is a growing concern,” Swaminathan remarked in a post on X. “We need more awareness, nutrition literacy, and better access to healthier diets, along with spaces for exercise,” she added, referencing the study’s findings.

Conducted by researchers from IIHMR University in Jaipur and Johns Hopkins University’s Bloomberg School of Public Health, the study utilized data from the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5), conducted between 2019 and 2021. The findings revealed that abdominal obesity affects 40% of women compared to 12% of men. Alarmingly, about 5-6 out of 10 women aged 30 to 49 are abdominally obese.

The association between abdominal obesity and women is notably stronger among the elderly and non-vegetarians. While urban areas show higher prevalence rates, the study indicates that abdominal obesity is also increasing in rural populations and among lower and middle socioeconomic groups.

Traditionally, Body Mass Index (BMI) has been the primary measure of obesity in India. However, this study is the first to assess abdominal obesity using waist circumference data from 659,156 women and 85,976 men aged 15 to 49 years.

Kerala’s growing fast food culture is contributing significantly to the rise in lifestyle diseases. Health experts attribute this trend to a lack of exercise and an increasingly sedentary lifestyle. The study indicates that some women with a healthy BMI also exhibit signs of abdominal obesity.

The prevalence rates of abdominal obesity in Kerala (65.4%), Tamil Nadu (57.9%), Punjab (62.5%), and Delhi (59%) highlight an “emerging health risk for Indian women.” Additionally, the study points to a “double burden of malnutrition” in the country.

Researchers are urging the government to implement targeted interventions for high-risk groups, particularly women in their thirties and forties, to address this pressing health issue.