Lucknow: One in three women aged 15-49 years in the city is overweight or obese, a trend that health experts say could fuel an increase in diabetes, hypertension and cardiovascular diseases in the coming years.
Ram Manohar Lohia Institute of Medical Sciences head of medicine, Prof Vikram Singh, said excess fat can interfere with the body’s ability to regulate blood sugar by affecting insulin production and response. It affects insulin production and the body’s response to insulin, increasing the likelihood of high blood sugar levels,” he said. Healthcity Vistaar Hospital managing director, Dr Sandeep Kapoor, said obesity is linked to hypertension, cardiovascular disease, fatty liver disease, sleep disorders and complications during pregnancy. “Women should adopt health habits to reduce the weight,” he added. Patwa said addressing the issue would require greater nutrition awareness, promotion of physical activity, access to nutritious foods and regular screening for diabetes and other lifestyle-related diseases.
“Obesity is a major risk factor for diabetes. Among women, it can also affect reproductive health and increase the risk of conditions such as polycystic ovary syndrome. The simultaneous rise in underweight and overweight women points to widening nutritional inequalities.