India’s Revised Obesity Guidelines

India’s Revised Obesity Guidelines

Sub: Sci

Sec: Health 

Why in News

• India has updated its obesity diagnosis and treatment guidelines after 15 years. This revision aligns with a global call for recalibration of how obesity is measured and takes into account recent findings on fat distribution and health risks, particularly in the Asian Indian population.

Revised Classification System:

• Two Stages of Obesity:

1. Innocuous Obesity: Increased body fat without organ or metabolic dysfunction.
2. Obesity with Consequences: Adverse impacts on physical functions and obesity-related diseases.

• Special emphasis on fat distribution in the abdominal area due to its particularly adverse effects on Indian populations.

Lower BMI Thresholds for Indians:

• Overweight: 23-24.9 kg/m² (revised from 25 kg/m²).
• Obesity: ≥25 kg/m² (compared to the Western standard of ≥30 kg/m²).

Ideal Waistline Measurements:

• Men: ≤90 cm (Western standard: 102 cm).
• Women: ≤80 cm (Western standard: 88 cm).

Why are Indian Bodies Different?

• Indian populations tend to have higher levels of body fat and develop conditions like diabetes at lower BMI thresholds than Western populations.
• Excess fat leads to higher inflammation and metabolic disorders in Indians.
• Strong correlation between abdominal obesity and conditions such as insulin resistance, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases.

About Body Mass Index (BMI):

• BMI is a numerical value derived from an individual’s weight and height, providing a general indication of body fatness.
• BMI = Weight (kg) / Height² (m²)
  • For example, a person weighing 70 kg with a height of 1.75 meters would have a BMI of 22.86.
• BMI Categories
  • Underweight: BMI < 18.5
  • Normal weight: BMI 18.5–24.9
  • Overweight: BMI 25–29.9
  • Obesity: BMI ≥ 30
    • Class 1: BMI 30–34.9
    • Class 2: BMI 35–39.9
    • Class 3: BMI ≥ 40
• BMI is widely used to assess and monitor weight categories within populations, aiding in public health decision-making.
• In clinical settings, BMI serves as a preliminary screening tool to identify individuals who may be at risk for weight-related health conditions.

Limitations of BMI:

• BMI does not distinguish between lean body mass and fat mass, potentially misclassifying muscular individuals as overweight or obese.
• It fails to consider where fat is distributed in the body, which is crucial since abdominal fat is more closely linked to health risks.
• BMI thresholds may not be appropriate across all ethnic groups due to differences in body composition and fat distribution.