National Family Health Survey Shows Higher Obesity Among Women In South India, Tamil Nadu Tops List

The study also revealed that overall obesity was more among women than men at the country level especially in south India.

A doctor checking the waist size of a man (Image for representation)

Chennai: A study released by the Hyderabad-based Council for Social Development using National Family Health Survey (NFHS) data found that the women of southern states--Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala--are more obese than men. Both women and men of south Indian states are more obese than the national average. 

The study was conducted among women in 120 districts of the southern states including Telangana (31), Karnataka (30), Andhra Pradesh (13), Kerala (14) and Tamil Nadu (32). The study was held among women between the age group of 15-49 years.

The study revealed that overall obesity was more among women than men at the country level especially in south India. The study also found out that the level of obesity was higher in south states for men and women than the national average. 

In southern states, the high levels of obesity are among urban women. It found that obesity is also high among rural areas of southern states than in the rest of the country. 

Obesity was also more among people in the highest wealth category. As per the wealth index categorisation, the highest prevalence of obesity was found to be among the highest wealth category with 38.6% of people being obese followed by the fourth and middle group categories with 30.5% and 23.7% obesity respectively. 

The obesity level rose by 3.3% from NFHS-4 and 5, the study said. Among the states, the study said that Telangana recorded the least increase in obesity by 2% while Tamil Nadu had the highest of 9.5% of obesity. 

A press note by the organisation said that the study was prepared in order to provide inputs for framing effective police interventions.