Twitter
Advertisement

Urban areas top obesity chart compared to rural areas: National survey

Total population obese people in urban & rural areas of the state has been increased to 13.2% from 6.2%

Latest News
article-main
FacebookTwitterWhatsappLinkedin

At the time when sedentary lifestyle and other lifestyle changes have changed routine life in general, the obesity levels in the population of the state has increased drastically. The National Family Health Survey (NFHS-4) has revealed that obesity in urban population has doubled over the last 10 years. The survey shows that every fourth female and every fifth male in urban population is obese or overweight.In rural Rajasthan also obese population has increased, however, obesity levels in rural are almost half than that of in urban areas.

According to NFHS-4,the total population of overweight or obese people in urban and rural areas of the state has been increased to 13.2 per cent from 6.2 per cent in 2005-06. Survey shows that for the adults between the age of 15 to 49 years, nutritional status is contradictory in rural and urban areas. In urban areas, overweight or obese population is higher as compared to population in rural areas. But, population with below normal body mass index (BMI) is higher in rural areas.

As per the survey, 19.7 per cent of male population in urban areas is obese while in rural areas it is 10.6 per cent. Similarly, in urban areas, 23.7 per cent of females are obese, whereas in rural areas, 10.7 per cent of women are obese. But as per doctors, these figures can not conclude that people in rural areas are less prone to obesity in comparison to urban population.

“Obesity is increasing rapidly in Indian population as we are observing increased cases of obesity from rural areas as well,” Dr Aditya Shriya, GI and Bariatric Surgeon at Narayana Hospital said. “It can be attributed to the decreased level of physical activities and lifestyle changes. People are having carbohydrate rich diet, with the advancement of technology, manual labour and work has been replaced by the use of machines and equipment in rural areas also. In hospitals, obesity patients are coming from even lower middle class which indicates that obesity is now no more a problem, related to higher class or rich people only,” he added.  

As per doctors, obesity or overweight is among the root causes for lifestyle diseases like hypertension and diabetes. According to World Health Organization (WHO),common health consequences of overweight and obesity are risk of developing cardiovascular diseases like heart disease and stroke, diabetes, osteoarthritis and some types of cancers.

Find your daily dose of news & explainers in your WhatsApp. Stay updated, Stay informed-  Follow DNA on WhatsApp.
Advertisement

Live tv

Advertisement
Advertisement