Association Between Educational Attainment and Overweight/Obesity in Eight South Asian Countries: A Systematic Review
Rubee Dev1, Zoe O'Neill2, Colleen M Norris3
1School of Nursing, Faculty of Applied Science, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
Asia-Pacific Journal of Public Health
|January 6, 2026
Summary
Overweight/obesity (OW/OB) is increasing in South Asia. Higher education levels are linked to greater OW/OB risk in women, necessitating tailored prevention strategies.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
- Sociology
Background:
- Rising prevalence of overweight/obesity (OW/OB) in low- and middle-income countries.
- Changing sociodemographic patterns of affected populations.
- Limited understanding of the education-OW/OB relationship in South Asia compared to high-income countries.
Conclusions:
- South Asian countries face evolving socioeconomic landscapes impacting cardiovascular risk factors like OW/OB.
- Higher education may be associated with increased OW/OB risk in women in this region.
- Preventive health strategies must be adapted to the specific context of the South Asian population.
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