2 weeks ago
Nearly Half of Andhra Pradesh Women Overweight or Obese
Almost half of the women who live in a part of India called Andhra Pradesh weigh more than doctors say is healthy.
A new government survey found that 47.9 out of every 100 women have a Body Mass Index, or BMI, of 25 or more.
BMI is a number doctors use to check if someone's weight is okay for their height.
A BMI of 25 or more means overweight, and 30 or more means obese.
A heart doctor, Dr Chinta Prabhakar Reddy, said these numbers are worrying.
He explained that many women are not moving around enough and are eating more fast food, packaged snacks, and sugary drinks.
Being very overweight can lead to serious illnesses like diabetes, heart disease, and stroke.
The doctor advises women to walk or exercise for 30 to 45 minutes every day.
He also says to eat lots of vegetables, fruits, and pulses and to cut down on sugar.
He believes a healthy woman means a healthy family.
47.9% of women in Andhra Pradesh have a BMI of 25 kg/m² or above, meaning they are overweight or obese, according to NFHS-6 (2023-24) data.
Dr Chinta Prabhakar Reddy, a cardiac and thoracic surgeon at Kurnool Government General Hospital, flagged the figures as a matter of concern.
Other southern states also show high rates: Puducherry 51.3%, Kerala 46.7%, Goa 45.1%, Tamil Nadu 44.2%, Karnataka 41.2% and Telangana 36.3%.
The trend is attributed to sedentary lifestyles, fast food, packaged foods, sweets, sugary beverages, urbanisation and greater dependence on vehicles.
Excess weight, especially abdominal obesity, raises the risk of diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, stroke, fatty liver, joint problems, sleep apnoea, certain cancers and pregnancy complications.
- Who
- Women in Andhra Pradesh and other southern Indian states; Dr Chinta Prabhakar Reddy, cardiac and thoracic surgeon at Kurnool Government General Hospital
- What
- Nearly half (47.9%) of women in Andhra Pradesh are overweight or obese, recording a Body Mass Index of 25 kg/m² or above
- Where
- Andhra Pradesh, India, with comparisons to Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Goa, Telangana and Puducherry
- When
- Based on the latest National Family Health Survey (NFHS-6) figures for 2023-24; comments made on a Thursday
- Why
- Sedentary lifestyles, changing food habits, fast food and sugary beverages, urbanisation, vehicle dependence, weight retained after childbirth, stress and irregular lifestyles
Key facts
- Affected population
- Women in Andhra Pradesh, India
- Overweight/obese share (AP)
- 47.9% (BMI of 25 kg/m² or above)
- Survey source
- National Family Health Survey (NFHS-6), 2023-24
- WHO overweight threshold
- BMI greater than or equal to 25
- WHO obesity threshold
- BMI greater than or equal to 30
- Highest regional figure cited
- Puducherry, 51.3%
- Recommended activity
- 30-45 minutes of walking or physical exercise daily
- Expert quoted
- Dr Chinta Prabhakar Reddy, Kurnool Government General Hospital
Quotes
Dr Chinta Prabhakar Reddy
Cardiac and thoracic surgeon at Kurnool Government General Hospital
“Obesity should not be viewed merely as a cosmetic concern as it is an important risk factor for several non-communicable diseases.”
thehansindia.com
“Women need to focus not merely on reducing weight but on adopting a healthy lifestyle. A healthy woman means a healthy family.”
thehansindia.com
Sources
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