A new analysis warns that a growing number of Indian women are carrying a type of body fat that is far more dangerous than it appears. The problem is not always visible on the weighing scale, but around the waist.
ABDOMINAL OBESITY EMERGING AS A MAJOR HEALTH THREAT
About six out of 10 women in India aged 30-49 are estimated to have abdominal obesity, according to findings discussed in a recent editorial published in the journal Diabetes & Metabolic Syndrome: Clinical Research & Reviews.
Researchers Dr. Anoop Misra and Dr. Amerta Gupta, Fortis CDOC Center of Excellence for Diabetes, Metabolic Diseases and Endocrinology, and the National Diabetes Obesity and Cholesterol Foundation (N-DOC), say this form of fat, stored deep around the abdomen and internal organs, is strongly linked to several serious diseases.
The editorial argues that waist circumference should be treated as an important “vital sign”, much like blood pressure or heart rate, especially for Asian Indian populations.
“Abdominal fat is one of the most dangerous types of body fat, yet it is rarely measured in routine health checks,” the authors note.
WHY BELLY FAT MATTERS MORE THAN WEIGHT
Many Indians may appear slim or have a normal Body Mass Index (BMI) but still carry unhealthy levels of fat around the abdomen.
The doctors describe this as the “”Asian Indian phenotype” – a body pattern characterised by higher body fat, lower muscle mass and increased insulin resistance, even when body weight is not very high.
Because of this, relying only on BMI may miss people who are at risk.
Abdominal obesity, defined as a waist circumference above 80 cm in women and 94 cm in men, is closely linked to a range of metabolic disorders.
These include type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and metabolic dysfunction–associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD).
Studies have shown that excess abdominal fat can also increase the risk of kidney disease, breast cancer and early onset diabetes.
A SILENT BUT GROWING CRISIS
India is already home to one of the largest populations of people with diabetes in the world. Researchers say abdominal obesity is playing a key role in driving this trend.
Unlike fat stored under the skin, visceral fat around the organs releases harmful chemicals and hormones that can worsen inflammation, impair insulin function and raise blood sugar levels.
Because these changes often occur silently, many people may not realise the risks until disease develops.
MEASURING WHAT MATTERS
The study is now calling for a shift in how obesity is assessed in India. Instead of relying only on weight or BMI, routine health checks should also include waist measurements or waist-to-height ratio.
A tape measure around the waist can reveal health risks long before symptoms appear.
Recognising abdominal obesity early could help people take steps such as improving diet, increasing physical activity and maintaining muscle mass – actions that could prevent diabetes and other chronic diseases later in life.
– Ends
