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According to ICMR-INDIAB, there are over 135 million cases of obesity in India. Being overweight and obese is one of the emerging problems as it poses various health risks. Read to know how body mass index will help you find the right balance and maintain a healthy weight.
In India, many individuals are suffering from overweight and obesity issues. Both terms are used interchangeably. They refer to excess body weight that is more than the healthy body mass for a certain height. Several factors contribute to excess gain, these include:
- Lack of healthcare facility
- Financial support
- Sedentary lifestyle
- Consumption of unhealthy food
Whether you’re obese or overweight, you may be at a higher risk of illnesses like heart disease, high blood pressure, dyslipidemia, among others. The high body mass makes you prone to such conditions. There are growing cases of diabetes and cholesterol among children in India, mainly due to obesity. In the case of children, measuring overweight and obesity is a challenge as their height and body composition changes with age.
Some findings from National family health survey India-3 (NFHS-3) suggest:
- India’s women are more likely to be obese than men
- In 2014, around 30 million women were found to be obese
- Nearly 9.8 million men were obese in the same year
- The overweight issue is higher in urban areas, and it is lower in people working in agriculture or manual works.
To know whether you’re overweight or obese, you can use BMI calculation. It estimates body fat by dividing weight in kilograms by the height in inches.
- If you’re overweight, the BMI should be in the range of 25.9 to 29.9
- If you’re obese, the BMI will be 30.0 and above
Reasons why you should keep a check on BMI:
- Based on the BMI value, you can know whether you’re prone to health risks
- You can decide what lifestyle changes you need to implement for healthy living
- It gives you a fair idea that your weight is in tandem with your height
- BMI is a preventive measure to keep your weight within a healthy range
What steps you to take to reduce excess body weight?
- Self-control is the first step in the weight loss process. Keep a track on your food and calories intake
- Do not skip any physical activity such as regular jogging or just a walk
- Focus on the quality of food for weight loss
- Get an accurate reading of your body mass index regularly through BMI index calculator online or your physician
You can achieve a healthy body mass index by eating quality food and doing regular physical activity, thus saying goodbye to excess weight issue forever.
