Chairman of AIG Hospital D. Nageshwar Reddy underscored the growing burden of obesity-related health issues while speaking at the hospital’s ‘Break The Weight’ programme on World Obesity Day in Hyderabad on Tuesday (March 4, 2025).
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
A recent study conducted by AIG Hospital among over 1,000 IT employees in Hyderabad’s Hitech City has revealed alarming statistics, 80% of them were found to be overweight. Highlighting the significance of these findings, chairman of AIG Hospital D. Nageshwar Reddy underscored the growing burden of obesity-related health issues while speaking at the hospital’s ‘Break The Weight’ programme on World Obesity Day on Tuesday (March 4).
Head of Cardiology at AIG Hospital Rajiv Menon raised concerns about the early onset of cardiovascular diseases in India, particularly among IT professionals. “In the West, heart diseases typically manifest a decade later than in Indians. However, in Hyderabad’s IT sector, we are witnessing heart attacks two decades earlier than expected. Compared to 20 years ago, today’s cases are occurring 30 years earlier, with individuals in their 20s suffering from heart attacks, primarily due to obesity,” he noted.
He further said that just like how India is the diabetes capital of the world, Hyderabad is becoming the diabetes capital of India.
Dr. Nageshwar Reddy also pointed to alarming trends among children. “A survey conducted in government schools found that 40% of students sampled had non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, with obesity also being frequent. Obesity is no longer a minor issue, it is linked to almost every major disease, and the situation in India is more serious than we once thought,” he said.
According to the National Family Health Survey-5 (NFHS-5), 30% of women and 32% of men aged 15 to 49 in Telangana are either overweight or obese, higher than the national averages of 24% and 22.9%, respectively. The data suggests that obesity is more prevalent in urban areas and among well-educated men, while undernutrition remains a pressing concern in rural areas, particularly among women from Scheduled Tribes.
Explaining the underlying causes of obesity, associate director of Internal Medicine Apoorva Munigela said: “Obesity results from an imbalance between energy intake and expenditure. When calorie consumption exceeds what the body burns, the excess energy is stored as fat, leading to overweight and obesity. The newer classification defines overweight as a Body Mass Index (BMI) over 23 and obesity as a BMI over 25.”
The impact of obesity on liver health was discussed by chief of Hepatology P. Nagaraja Rao. “Many patients with advanced liver disease come to us with fatty liver, despite never consuming alcohol. When asked about their weight history, they often admit to being overweight or obese for years. Excess glucose and overeating lead to fat accumulation in the liver, causing inflammation and, in some cases, liver cancer,” he explained.
Senior consultant Gynaecologist Shraddha Ramchandani highlighted the link between obesity and polycystic ovarian disease (PCOD). “Obesity is closely associated with hormonal imbalances. Excess fat leads to increased estrogen production, which affects ovulation and can contribute to infertility. It also impacts egg quality, increasing the risk of miscarriage,” she said.
The respiratory effects of obesity were discussed by senior consultant Pulmonologist Vishwanath Gella. “Obesity affects the lungs in ways that many don’t realise. It disrupts immune function, increasing the risk of pneumonia and influenza,” he said.
Adding to the discussion, director of ENT Srinivas Kishore Sistla highlighted the connection between obesity and sleep disorders. “Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) and obesity are closely linked. Excess fat accumulation in the neck compresses the airway, making it difficult to breathe during sleep. This not only affects sleep quality but also increases the risk of other serious health issues,” he noted.
Published – March 04, 2025 08:48 pm IST