The risk of being overweight in India is increasingly influenced by geographical location, with recent data highlighting significant differences between the southern and northern states. The findings from the sixth National Family Health Survey, conducted by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, indicate that adults in Andhra Pradesh are more than double as likely to be overweight compared to those in Jharkhand. This survey has categorised Andhra Pradesh as having one of the highest obesity rates in the country.

Approximately 45 per cent of adults in Andhra Pradesh are classified as overweight, closely followed by Kerala with a rate of 41.9 per cent. Other southern states, including Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Telangana, also registered figures significantly above the national average of 29 per cent. In stark contrast, states like Jharkhand (16.9 per cent), Bihar (19.6 per cent), and Chhattisgarh report some of the lowest percentages of overweight adults in India.

Gender Disparities in Obesity Rates

Gender plays a notable role in the prevalence of obesity across these regions, as evidenced by the survey results. In general, women have a higher likelihood of being overweight compared to men in numerous states with elevated obesity rates. For example, in Andhra Pradesh, nearly five in ten women are reported as overweight in contrast to approximately four in ten men. This trend is also observed in Kerala, where 46.7 per cent of women are overweight, compared to 37 per cent of men.

In Tamil Nadu, the statistics reveal that 44.2 per cent of women are classified as overweight alongside 38.8 per cent of men. These figures underscore a persistent gender gap, with women showing a greater susceptibility to obesity, particularly in the southern states.

Health Consequences Associated with Obesity

The implications of obesity extend beyond weight gain, impacting overall health. Nationally, 17.8 per cent of women and 20.9 per cent of men aged fifteen years and older are either diagnosed with high or very high blood sugar levels or are on diabetes medication. Moreover, 19.4 per cent of women and 22.1 per cent of men are facing elevated blood pressure or are receiving treatment for hypertension.

Data from the NFHS-6 reveals a similar trend at the state level. In Andhra Pradesh, where nearly 48 per cent of women and 42 per cent of men are overweight or obese, approximately 22 per cent of women and 24 per cent of men are on medication for high or very high blood sugar levels. Additionally, around 24 per cent of women and 26 per cent of men in the state suffer from hypertension.

Kerala presents a comparable scenario, with around 47 per cent of women and 37 per cent of men identified as overweight or obese. The prevalence of diabetes medication or diagnosis is reported at 29 per cent for women and 32 per cent for men. Hypertension figures are similarly high, with 31.9 per cent of women and 36.6 per cent of men facing this condition. Tamil Nadu and Karnataka reflect this pattern as well, with elevated rates of obesity closely followed by increased incidences of diabetes and hypertension above the national averages.

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