Research Scholar, Centre for the Study of Regional Development, School of Social Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India.
Research Associate, National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA), New Delhi, India.
BMC Public Health. 2022 Dec 19;22(1):2376. doi: 10.1186/s12889-022-14531-9.
World Health Organisation has described obesity as one of the most neglected public health issues. Initially, obesity was only a problem in high-income countries; however, at present, it is rising in middle and low-income countries as well, rapidly in India, especially in the urban areas. In the light of the increasing prevalence of obesity in India, it was worthwhile to study perception, risk factors and health behaviours in adult obesity holistically.
This study resorted to a concurrent mixed methods approach, collecting and combining quantitative survey (n = 120) and qualitative interview data (n = 18). Female and male aged 25-54 years with a waist circumference of 80 cm and 90 cm or higher, respectively, and a BMI of 25 or higher were selected from Kolkata, India. Kolkata was chosen as the study area since it ranked 7th out of 640 districts, the highest among the five major urban cities in India, with around 41% of the female and 43% of the male population aged 15-49 years with a BMI of 25 or higher.
Participants confirmed that lifestyle was one of the main reasons for obesity. They believed that family history, social relations, behavioural factors, urbanisation, and time-poor were significant risk factors of obesity. Interview participants expanded that technology, lack of health education and self-care, and digital marketing of food influenced the risk of obesity. Participants confirmed that they wanted to lose weight to feel healthier. Most respondents claimed that they engaged in lightly to moderate-intensity physical activity. However, a discrepancy in opinion was observed between survey responses and interview participants' views on dietary behaviours. Participants confirmed that they rarely consulted health professionals and that the family had a minimal role in preventing obesity. Interview participants expanded that people should make better lifestyle choices at an individual level to prevent obesity.
Health education is fundamental. Making better lifestyle choices is crucial, which would help increase the lifespan and health span and decrease the risk of diseases. In addition, social support and better policies are required to prevent the disease and any related complications.
世界卫生组织将肥胖描述为最被忽视的公共卫生问题之一。最初，肥胖仅存在于高收入国家；然而，目前，它在中低收入国家也呈上升趋势，在印度尤为迅速，尤其是在城市地区。鉴于肥胖在印度的流行率不断上升，全面研究成年人肥胖的认知、风险因素和健康行为是值得的。
本研究采用了同时进行的混合方法，收集和结合了定量调查（n=120）和定性访谈数据（n=18）。从印度加尔各答选择了年龄在 25-54 岁、女性腰围 80cm 及以上、男性腰围 90cm 及以上、BMI 为 25 或更高的女性和男性。选择加尔各答作为研究区域，是因为它在印度五个主要城市中排名第七，在 640 个区中，女性和男性 15-49 岁人群中有 41%和 43%的 BMI 为 25 或更高，肥胖率最高。
参与者证实，生活方式是肥胖的主要原因之一。他们认为，家族史、社会关系、行为因素、城市化和时间短缺是肥胖的重要风险因素。访谈参与者进一步指出，技术、缺乏健康教育和自我保健以及食品的数字营销影响了肥胖的风险。参与者证实他们希望减肥以感觉更健康。大多数受访者声称他们进行了轻度到中度强度的体育活动。然而，在调查回复和访谈参与者对饮食行为的看法之间观察到了意见上的差异。参与者证实他们很少咨询卫生专业人员，家庭在预防肥胖方面作用有限。访谈参与者进一步指出，人们应该在个人层面做出更好的生活方式选择，以预防肥胖。
健康教育是基础。做出更好的生活方式选择至关重要，这将有助于延长寿命和健康寿命，并降低患病风险。此外，需要社会支持和更好的政策来预防这种疾病和任何相关的并发症。
