Effect of obesity on cardiovascular risk factors in urban population in South India

Non-communicable diseases are on the rise globally, and developing countries are also witnessing the burden. Rising obesity levels are a matter of serious concern owing to the well-established link between obesity and non-communicable diseases. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of obesity on the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors among the Indian population.

Data on blood pressure, anthropometric and biochemical measurements were collected for 2021 subjects aged above 20 years. Measurements were restricted to only anthropometrics for those below 20 years (N=1289). The study population was categorised into three groups according to body mass index for statistical analysis.

The prevalence of overweight and obesity was 29.5% and 11.1%, respectively, which shows significant rising trends since 1995. Glucose intolerance, dyslipidaemia, hypertension and metabolic syndrome were significantly higher among the overweight and obese subjects than among normal subjects. The prevalence of metabolic syndrome was 59% among the obese group, showing the highest risk for that group. Overweight and obesity, increasing age, hypercholesterolaemia and family history of hypertension showed a strong association with metabolic syndrome.

All the cardiometabolic abnormalities showed an increasing trend with increase in body mass index. The morbidity and mortality associated with cardiovascular diseases can be reduced by curbing the obesity epidemic.