Belly Buttons Explode – Hyderabad coined as India’s Obesity Capital for women

Known for iconic biryani and other high calorie cuisine, which maybe amazingly addictive Hyderabadi women who love to gorge on these delicacies, but won’t move a limb are becoming a victim of Obesity and related disorders

Binge eating without doing any workout have made the Hyderabadi women the most obese in the country. They have overtaken their counterparts in other Indian cities on the BMI index. These shocking stats come after the National Family Health Survey-4 of 766 households comprising 830 women, which revealed 47.9% Hyderabadi women were obese in the 14-49 age-group.

It might be astonishing, but studies found that Hyderabadi women have beaten men on the obesity chart. Only 33.7% men surveyed in the city were found obese. Those with a body mass index (BMI) higher than 25 kgm2 are termed overweight.

Zainab, a city resident who weighed 165 kgs on her 24th Birthday opted for a Bariatric Surgery in a city based hospital. She could hardly move and her mammoth weight and short stature made surgical intervention extremely difficult. Post Surgery she weighed 95 kgs. This example is not just about a single woman Zainab, but there are many others who face a similar condition of difficulty in climbing stairs, high sugar levels, ashamed to socialise and are now sinking into depression.

Bariatric Surgeons from some of the reputed institutes were asked to comment on the situation and all of them suggested that lack of balanced nutrition, especially in micronutrients contribute to high obesity in urban areas. Past health surveys showed improper nutrition was not only found among urban poor, but even among the well-off

Part of the blame can be pinned on easy access to junk food and sedentary lifestyle. Whether it’s ordering tasty, but unhealthy food or getting a cab at one’s doorstep without the need to walk, more and more women are falling victim to obesity.

In fact, women in all five top Indian cities (except Kolkata) were obese when compared to men, making weight gain a trend among the fairer sex. This is being attributed to higher concentration of body fat among women on a height-and-weight scale.

The consequences are disastrous as obesity is a getaway to diseases like diabetes, hypertension, sleep apnea, lung disorders and early arthritis. What’s worse, there are no effective medication to reduce weight. We cannot modify genetic predisposition to obesity, but lifestyle changes, dieting and exercise can help reduce weight. Those morbidly obese, can opt for bariatric surgery after conservative methods fail.