The Prevalence of Overweight, Obesity, Hypertension, and Diabetes in India: Analysis of the 2015–2016 National Family Health Survey

Abstract

Overweight, obesity, hypertension, and diabetes increase the risk of non-communicable diseases and all-cause mortality worldwide. Previous studies have not determined the prevalence of these conditions/diseases throughout India. Therefore, this study was aimed to address this limitation. Data on these conditions/diseases among men and women aged ≥ 18 years were obtained from the fourth National Family Health Survey conducted throughout India between January 2015 and December 2016. The prevalence and prevalence rate per 100,000 population were calculated at the national level and by age group, sex, and type of residence for each state and union territory. The national prevalence of overweight, obesity, hypertension, and diabetes were 14.6%, 3.4%, 5.2%, and 7.1%, respectively. The highest prevalence of these conditions/diseases at the national level was seen among those aged 35–49 years (54 years for men), especially women living in urban areas. In India, 1 out of every 7, 29, 19, and 14 individuals at the national level had overweight, obesity, hypertension, and diabetes, respectively—between 2015 and 2016. These results are important for the healthcare system and government policies in the future. Moreover, targeted efforts are required to establish public health strategies for the prevention, management, and treatment of these conditions/diseases throughout India.

Change in nutritional status among women of childbearing age in India (1998–2016)

“…NFHS started in the early 1990s and has become a crucial source of data on population, health and nutrition in the coun- Detailed versions of sampling procedure are available through the NFHS reports 22 and previous publications. 15,17,23…”

“…Funding for the surveys were provided by MoHFW as well as by some international agencies such as United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Department for International Development (DFID), the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, UNICEF, UNFPA and the MacArthur Foundation, with technical assistance by ICF international USA. Detailed versions of sampling procedure are available through the NFHS reports 22 and previous publications 15,17,23 …”

“…[12][13][14] There has been a growing volume of epidemiological studies exploring the root causes overnutrition in India. [15][16][17] The findings indicate that the shift from undernutrition to overnutrition is mostly attributable to the demographic transition involving population ageing, rapid urbanization and socioeconomic transition that is triggering changes in lifestyle behaviour and dietary patterns. This epidemiological shift, also known as nutrition transition, is a phenomenon that involves the coexistence of undernutrition and overnutrition, which is commonly referred to as the double burden of malnutrition.…”

“…Obesity is a multifaceted problem whose risk factors vary across and within countries and having wide‐ranging medical and socioeconomic consequences 12–14 . There has been a growing volume of epidemiological studies exploring the root causes overnutrition in India 15–17 . The findings indicate that the shift from undernutrition to overnutrition is mostly attributable to the demographic transition involving population ageing, rapid urbanization and socioeconomic transition that is triggering changes in lifestyle behaviour and dietary patterns.…”

Spatiotemporal Variation of the Association between Urbanicity and Incident Hypertension among Chinese Adults

“…On the other hand, many areas that are officially regarded as rural have been gaining urban features [11]. Urban environments were believed to promote lifestyles that place people at risk of HTN [10], as cross-sectional studies in the context of developing countries often showed that urban residents had higher HTN prevalence [12,13]. Hence, urbanization has come to be considered to be one of the forces underlying a nutrition transition towards inactivity coupled with energy-dense diets, and a subsequent increase in the HTN burden [10,14,15].…”