An epidemiological study of obesity in adults in the urban population of Delhi.
The prevalence of obesity and its associations were assessed during a community based epidemiological survey of coronary heart disease on a randomised sample of 13,414 adults in the age group 25-64 years living in urban Delhi. Body Mass Index (BMI) > 25 was considered to be the cut off point for defining obesity. By this criterion, the overall prevalence rate of obesity was 27.8%. Obesity was found to be more common in female subjects (Male--21.3%, Female--33.4%, p < 0.001). Obesity was more frequent in male subjects with lower physical activity compared to those doing heavier physical activity (29.3 vs 17.5%, p < 0.001). Physical activity did not influence the prevalence of obesity in females. Hypertension (24.8 vs 8.2%, p < 0.001) coronary heart disease (5.3 vs 2.4%, p < 0.001) and diabetes mellitus (3.2 vs 1.6%, p < 0.001) were more common in the obese than in the non-obese subjects. Hypercholesterolaemia (65.5 vs 53%, p < 0.001) and hypertriglyceridaemia (73.3 vs 61.1%, p < 0.001) were found to be associated with obesity.
Sitaram Bhartia Institute of Science & Research, New Delhi.
N
N
Gopinath
S L
SL
Chadha
P
P
Jain
S
S
Shekhawat
R
R
Tandon
D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D048909:Diabetes Complications; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D014504:Urban Health