If you’re having difficulty tying your shoes because your tummy gets in the way, beware! It may be a potential indicator of obesity and related health conditions. It’s time to visit a health professional.
Dr Sachin Ambekar, Medical Director and Director of Minimal Access Surgery at MASSH Hospital in Delhi warned that having excess body fat, especially around the waist, can lead to other health issues that can affect mobility and physical function, such as joint pain, difficulty breathing, and increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Basic problem with obesity is that people don’t accept it as a disease. They must be made aware that while overweight, which is an indicator of the obesity, can be controlled, obesity is a very complex health problem.
Citing data from a recent study conducted by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), a premier health research institution under the Union Health Ministry, he said that urban areas have a higher obesity rate than rural regions. Women, individuals from higher socioeconomic backgrounds, and those with diabetes or high blood pressure were found to have a higher likelihood of obesity, as per the study.
Situation in Delhi too is alarming where data indicates that nearly 81% of people in Delhi-NCR are overweight or obese.
Reasons are plenty. Influence of social media, easy access to comfort foods at the click of a button, supermarket marketing strategies, increased automobile dependency, prolonged screen time, sedentary jobs, stress, and sleep deprivation are causing obesity.
Dr Ambekar identified processed and high-calorie diets, sugary soft drinks, large portion sizes, junk food, and stress-induced overeating as major contributors.
“Spending excessive time on mobile phones while sitting on the toilet or mindlessly eating while watching screens are also to be blamed.”
These can make even routine activities challenging. We frequently see patients struggling with hygiene issues, leading to severe infections in private areas because they are unable to clean themselves properly,” he noted.
Citing real-life examples, he pointed out that many obese individuals hesitate to step out due to limited seating options. “They often find it uncomfortable to sit in cinema halls, and even air travel becomes a challenge, as they are sometimes required to book two seats,” he added.
In fact, obesity not only influences individuals’ health, but also their psychological state making them prone to depression, anxiety, self-esteem, and body dissatisfaction, he said, reflecting on its wider implications.
Dr. Ambekar emphasised that the solution lies within individuals, recommending a focus on home-cooked meals, regular physical activity like walking and yoga, and lifestyle changes such as consistent sleep schedules.
While many view bariatric surgery as a solution, Dr. Ambekar asserted it should be a last resort, reserved for those who have exhausted other options. He explained that a Body Mass Index (BMI) above 26 is classified as overweight, while a BMI above 29 is considered obese.
Modern medical advancements, particularly Minimal Access Surgery (MAS), offer effective solutions for weight loss, including techniques like ballooning and various types of laparoscopic gastric bypass surgeries, explained Dr Ambekar.
Mansi Bansal Jhunjhunwala, Founder & CEO of MASSH Group of Hospitals, emphasised that proper and timely meals are essential not only for combating obesity but also for preventing related diseases. She highlighted the richness of Indian cuisine, which is infused with nutrient-dense spices, yet noted that many are mindlessly adopting Western dietary habits that may not be suitable for our bodies.
At our hospital we focus on P5 approach ie Personalized, Participatory, Predictive, Preventive, and Precision care ensuring the right treatment at the right time, she said, adding that “we focus on addressing its root cause to minimize the footprint of disease it, like any other health challenge, must be tackled at the grassroots level through proactive prevention and timely intervention.”
A recent study published in The Lancet warns that India, among other countries, is facing an obesity crisis. The study predicts that by 2050, more than half of all adults and a third of children and adolescents will become overweight or obese. Specifically, it estimates that 21.8 crore men and 23.1 crore women in India will fall into these categories, totaling approximately 44.9 crore people—nearly a third of the country’s projected population. This alarming trend was part of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s monthly Mann Ki Baat radio broadcast, where he urged the country to draw focus on the obesity epidemic that is occurring in India currently. He also cited WHO data which said that in the year 2022, around 250 Cr. people were overweight globally. He further encouraged the listeners to reduce their oil consumption by 10 per cent, suggesting that one must purchase 10% less oil monthly to ensure better health.
