High prevalence of abdominal obesities and metabolically unhealthy individuals in a highly urbanized district of India: findings of a cross-sectional survey in Puducherry

Background Abdominal obesities are better markers for predicting cardiovascular abnormalities than risk stratification based only on body mass index (BMI). We aimed to estimate the prevalence of abdominal adiposities using predictive equations for Asian Indian adults and to determine the prevalence of metabolically healthy subjects among those overweight/obese and with normal BMI. Methods A community-based survey was conducted among those aged 18-69 years in the district of Puducherry between February 2019 and February 2020. We surveyed 2,560 individuals selected through multi-stage cluster random sampling from urban and rural areas (50 wards and 50 villages, respectively) of the district. Anthropometric measurements, such as height, weight, waist circumference, and blood pressure were recorded from each participant. Fasting blood sample was collected from each alternate participant to estimate metabolic risk factors. Results Over four-fifths (85.6%; 95% CI: 84.2-86.9) and two-thirds (69.7%; 95% CI: 67.9-71.6) of the population in the district had high levels of intra-abdominal adipose tissue (IAAT) and total abdominal fat (TAF), respectively. Both the risk factors were significantly higher among women and urban population. About 43% (95% CI: 41-44.9) of the population had high abdominal subcutaneous adipose tissue (SCAT) with a significantly higher prevalence among the urban population. Among those overweight/obese (n = 773), almost all 99.4% (95% CI: 98.7-99.9) were metabolically unhealthy. Among subjects with normal BMI (n = 314), only about 2.9% (95% CI: 1.3-4.8) were metabolically healthy. Conclusion We highlight the substantially high prevalence of IAAT, TAF, and SCAT in the district of Puducherry. Almost all the study population was metabolically unhealthy irrespective of their BMI levels. Lay Summary The distribution of abdominal fat is a better predictor of cardiovascular abnormalities in an individual than the risk assessment based only on body mass index (BMI). We conducted a community-based cross-sectional survey to estimate the prevalence of abdominal adiposities using predictive equations for Asian Indian adults and determine the prevalence of metabolically healthy subjects among those overweight/obese and with normal BMI. We surveyed 2,560 adults aged 18-69 years in the district of Puducherry between February 2019 and February 2020. We recorded each participant's anthropometric measurements, such as height, weight, waist circumference, and blood pressure and collected a fasting blood sample to assess their metabolic health status. Over four-fifths (85.6%) and two-thirds (69.7%) of the population in the district had high levels of intra-abdominal adipose tissue (IAAT) and total abdominal fat (TAF), respectively. Nearly half (43%) of the population had high abdominal subcutaneous adipose tissue (SCAT). Both the risk factors were substantially higher among women and the urban population. Among those overweight/obese, almost all (99.4%) were metabolically unhealthy; among those with normal BMI, only about 2.9% were metabolically healthy. From this study, we highlight the immediate need for population-based health promotion interventions, especially among women and urban residents of Puducherry district.

Automated summary

The prevalence of intra-abdominal adipose tissue (IAAT) and total abdominal fat (TAF) is significantly high in the district of Puducherry, with almost all overweight/obese individuals being metabolically unhealthy and only a small percentage of those with normal BMI being metabolically healthy. This emphasizes the importance of population-based health promotion interventions, especially in urban areas and among women in the district.