Convergence in overweight and obesity across different epidemiological transition levels of Indian states: A population-based study from 2005-06 to 2019-21

Prashant Kumar Singh, ICMR-National Institute of Cancer Prevention and Research
Lucky Singh, ICMR - National Institute of Medical Statistics
Shalini Singh, ICMR-National Institute of Cancer Prevention and Research

Background:This study examines the prevalence and trends of overweight and obesity among women and men in India, across seven epidemiological transition levels (ETL), stratified by wealth quintile, place of residence and educational status during 2005-2021. Methods:We estimated the age-standardized prevalence of overweight/ obesity & obesity for women and men by socio-economic characteristics in seven ETL groups from the three rounds of National Family Health Survey (2005-06, 2015-16, and 2019-21). Furthermore, equiplots illustrated the inequalities in overweight & obesity by socio-economic characteristics. Findings:Between 2005 to 2021, the prevalence of overweight/ obesity increased among women from 12.7% to 24.0%, and among men 9.3%, to 22.9%. Highest increase in overweight and obesity were noted in the Higher ETL group of states, followed by the Lower- middle ETL groups of the states and in north-east states. The gap between the highest and lowest prevalence of overweight/ obesity from 2005 to 2021, had declined across wealth quintile from 29.3% to 26.5%, by place of residence from 16.6% to 12.2%, and by education status from 24.4% to 17.2%. Conclusion:Findings indicate that the shift in the burden of overweight & obesity across socio-economic groups is moving towards the second-stage of transition, where disadvantaged populations are increasingly affected.

Keywords: Spatial Demography, Inequality, Disadvantage and Discrimination, Health and Morbidity

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