What is obesity?
Obesity is a chronic condition where excess body fat accumulates to a level that negatively affects health. It is defined by the WHO as a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 30 or higher. In Indians, the threshold is lower: a BMI of 25 or above is considered obese due to metabolic differences that cause Indian populations to develop obesity-related diseases at lower BMI levels than Western populations.
What are the symptoms of obesity?
Symptoms of obesity include excess body weight particularly around the waist, breathlessness with minimal physical activity, persistent fatigue and low energy, snoring or sleep apnoea, back and joint pain (especially knees and hips), darkening of skin around the neck or armpits (acanthosis nigricans — a marker of insulin resistance), and irregular periods or infertility in women, often linked to PCOS.
What are the main causes of obesity?
Obesity results from a combination of factors: caloric excess (consuming more calories than the body burns), physical inactivity, genetic predisposition, hormonal imbalances (hypothyroidism, PCOS, Cushing syndrome), certain medications (steroids, antidepressants), psychological factors (stress eating, depression), and environmental factors (access to high-calorie foods, sedentary work). In Indian populations, high-carbohydrate diets with farsan, sweets, and refined grains combined with desk-based work are significant contributors.
Can obesity cause diabetes?
Yes. Obesity is the single strongest risk factor for Type 2 Diabetes. Excess fat — particularly visceral fat around abdominal organs — causes insulin resistance, where cells no longer respond efficiently to insulin. The pancreas compensates by producing more insulin until it can no longer keep up, resulting in persistently elevated blood sugar. Weight loss of just 5–10% of body weight can significantly improve or reverse insulin resistance.
Can obesity cause high blood pressure and heart disease?
Yes. Obesity increases blood pressure through multiple mechanisms — increased blood volume, activation of the renin-angiotensin system, and sleep apnoea causing overnight blood pressure surges. Sustained hypertension combined with obesity-related dyslipidaemia (abnormal cholesterol) dramatically increases the risk of heart attack, stroke, and heart failure. Obesity is now recognised as an independent cardiovascular risk factor.
Can obesity cause infertility?
Yes. In women, obesity disrupts the hormonal balance governing the menstrual cycle, causing irregular periods and anovulation. It is strongly linked to PCOS. In men, obesity reduces testosterone levels and sperm quality. Weight loss of 10–15% can restore regular ovulation in many women and significantly improve fertility in both sexes.
Is obesity a disease?
Yes. Obesity is formally recognised as a chronic, progressive disease by the WHO, the American Medical Association, and the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). This recognition is important because it shifts understanding of obesity from a personal failure or lack of willpower to a medical condition with biological drivers that requires medical treatment — just like hypertension or diabetes.
How can obesity be prevented?
Obesity prevention focuses on: maintaining a balanced diet rich in vegetables, dal, protein and whole grains while limiting refined carbohydrates, fried foods and sweetened beverages; regular physical activity (minimum 30–45 minutes daily); adequate sleep of 7–8 hours (sleep deprivation increases ghrelin, the hunger hormone); stress management through yoga, pranayama and mindfulness; establishing healthy dietary habits in children early; and regular health checks to detect weight gain and metabolic consequences before they progress.
Can obesity be cured?
Obesity can be effectively managed and in many cases reversed. Lifestyle modification works well for mild to moderate obesity. Medical weight management programmes add structured supervision and pharmacotherapy. For severe obesity (BMI above 37.5 in Indians, or above 32.5 with diabetes or other comorbidities), bariatric surgery provides the most sustained, significant and durable weight loss — with metabolic benefits beyond what weight loss alone explains.
Which yoga asanas can help reduce obesity?
Yoga asanas that support weight management include Surya Namaskar (Sun Salutation) — a comprehensive sequence that builds strength and increases heart rate; Kapalbhati pranayama — activates abdominal muscles and improves metabolic rate; Vajrasana — promotes digestion (especially after meals); Bhujangasana (Cobra pose) — strengthens core and back; and Tadasana (Mountain pose) — improves posture and body awareness. Yoga is a useful complement to aerobic exercise and diet, not a standalone obesity treatment.
What is the best treatment for obesity?
The best treatment depends on severity. For BMI under 30 (or under 25 in Indians without comorbidities): structured dietary changes and regular exercise. For BMI 25–35 with comorbidities: supervised medical weight loss programme, possibly including pharmacotherapy. For BMI above 37.5 without comorbidities, or above 32.5 with Type 2 diabetes, hypertension, PCOS or sleep apnoea: laparoscopic bariatric surgery (sleeve gastrectomy or gastric bypass) provides the most effective, sustainable treatment — achieving weight loss, metabolic improvement and comorbidity resolution simultaneously.
What is bariatric surgery?
Bariatric surgery refers to surgical procedures that treat severe obesity by reducing the stomach size and/or altering the digestive process. The most commonly performed procedure in India is laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy — in which 75–80% of the stomach is removed laparoscopically, creating a narrow sleeve. This reduces food intake, dramatically lowers the hunger hormone ghrelin, and produces 60–70% excess body weight loss at 2 years. Over 80% of patients with Type 2 diabetes see improvement or complete remission.
What are the side effects of obesity surgery?
Bariatric surgery is very safe when performed by experienced surgeons. Possible side effects include nutritional deficiencies (iron, B12, calcium, vitamin D — managed with lifelong supplementation), temporary hair thinning at 3–6 months (resolves with protein intake and supplementation), gastroesophageal reflux in some sleeve patients, and the need for lifelong dietary discipline. Serious complications such as leaks or bleeding occur in under 1% of cases at experienced centres.
What is the rate of obesity in India?
Approximately 25% of adults in India are overweight or obese, with urban areas showing significantly higher rates. Cities like Vadodara, Ahmedabad, Surat, and Bengaluru report obesity rates considerably above the national average due to sedentary lifestyles, carbohydrate-heavy diets, and increased consumption of processed and restaurant food.
Why is obesity increasing in India?
Obesity is rising in India due to a combination of: shift from traditional high-fibre diets to calorie-dense processed foods; increased consumption of refined carbohydrates, sweetened beverages, fried snacks and restaurant food; sedentary office and IT-sector work; reduced physical activity and outdoor play particularly in children; rising stress levels promoting emotional eating; shorter sleep durations; and genetic factors predisposing Indians to central obesity and insulin resistance at lower BMI levels.
What is the difference between overweight and obesity?
Overweight and obesity are both defined by excess body fat but at different thresholds. Using WHO cutoffs: overweight is BMI 25–29.9 and obesity is BMI 30 or above. Using Indian-specific cutoffs (ICMR/OSSI): overweight is BMI 23–24.9 and obesity is BMI 25 or above. The distinction matters clinically because treatment intensity and urgency differ: lifestyle modification for overweight, while moderate-to-severe obesity typically benefits from structured medical or surgical programmes.
What are 5 health problems caused by obesity?
The five most clinically significant health problems caused by obesity are: Type 2 Diabetes (obesity is the primary driver in 90% of cases), hypertension and cardiovascular disease (heart attack, stroke), fatty liver disease (NAFLD/MAFLD — present in 70% of obese individuals), obstructive sleep apnoea (present in 50–70% of morbidly obese patients), and osteoarthritis of the knees and hips due to excess mechanical load.
Can obesity cause hair loss?
Yes. Obesity-related hormonal imbalance — particularly insulin resistance and elevated androgens in PCOS — can cause hair thinning in women. Nutritional deficiencies common in obesity (iron, zinc, biotin) also contribute. Additionally, rapid weight loss without adequate protein intake causes temporary telogen effluvium (diffuse hair shedding). Sustained, gradual weight loss with adequate protein intake minimises this.
Can obesity shorten life expectancy?
Yes. Severe obesity (BMI above 40) is associated with a reduction in life expectancy of 5–10 years. This is primarily due to cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and certain cancers. Studies show that bariatric surgery in appropriate candidates reduces long-term mortality by 30–40% compared to non-surgical treatment, largely through cardiovascular risk reduction.
Which doctor should I consult for obesity?
For obesity management, the appropriate specialist depends on severity. A bariatric surgeon is appropriate for moderate-to-severe obesity (BMI above 30 with comorbidities, or above 35–37.5), as they can advise on the full spectrum of treatment including surgical options. An endocrinologist is helpful when hormonal causes are suspected. Dr Samir Contractor at Sterling Hospitals, Vadodara is a bariatric surgeon and PN1-certified nutrition coach who addresses all aspects of obesity management — from dietary guidance to bariatric surgery. Book on WhatsApp:
+91 98245 93464.
