The World Health Organisation (WHO) has identified obesity as the predominant chronic health concern globally among adults, including in India. Approximately 30-65% of adult Indians are classified as either overweight or obese.

Obesity is characterised by an excessive accumulation of body fat, with particular emphasis on abdominal fat distribution, which is deemed more detrimental than fat accumulation in other areas. Increased waist circumference, indicating abdominal fat accumulation, is considered a significant risk factor.

Methods for determining obesity include Body Mass Index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), and waist-to-hip circumference ratio (WHR). Combining these measures can better identify individuals at risk of cardiovascular disease.

BMI, calculated as weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared (kg/m2), is the most commonly used indicator of thinness or fatness. While a BMI of 18.5 to 25 is generally considered normal internationally, for Asians, a range of 18.5 to 23 is recommended due to their tendency to have higher body fat percentages even at lower BMIs, placing them at greater risk of chronic diseases.

A waist-to-hip ratio exceeding 0.9 in men and 0.8 in women, along with a waist circumference of 90cm for men and 80cm for women, is associated with an elevated risk of various chronic diseases, particularly in Asian Indians.

Obesity and overweight stem from a chronic imbalance between calorie intake and expenditure, exacerbated by factors such as high dietary fat intake, inadequate exercise, sedentary lifestyles, behavioural and psychological factors leading to overeating, and metabolic anomalies favouring fat storage. Childhood and adolescent obesity can predispose individuals to adult obesity.

Health consequences of obesity include hypertension, dyslipidaemia, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, osteoarthritis, sleep disorders, respiratory issues, certain cancers, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), infertility, and gestational diabetes in women.

To combat obesity, strategies include reducing fried and junk food consumption, increasing intake of fruits, vegetables, and fibre-rich foods, gradual weight loss, moderation in calorie intake, regular physical activity, meditation to enhance self-awareness and mitigate emotional eating, and supervision by healthcare professionals including doctors and dietitians.

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