Research
Mixed
South Asian ethnicity is predisposed to 'thin-fat' obesity (normal weight obesity), leading to higher risks of diabetes, hypertension, and dyslipidemia at lower BMIs.
If you are South Asian, your risk for diabetes and heart disease starts at a lower weight than other ethnicities. Even if your BMI is normal, you might have 'thin-fat' obesity. Get regular check-ups for blood sugar, blood pressure, and cholesterol, and focus on building muscle and staying active.
LimitedSupportsHIGH confidence
The South Asian ethnicity is known to have a predisposition to develop obesity related complications at a lower body mass index... The prevalence of this phenotype has been about 15% in Chennai and about 16% in Mumbai... They were also found to have a significantly higher prevalence of diabetes, hypertension and dyslipidaemia as compared to non-obese, normal fat containing individuals
Why this rating
Based on population-based surveys and specific studies.
Source
ESI Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Evaluation and Management of Obesity in India – An Update (2025)
Sri Venkata Madhu et al. · Indian Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism · 2025
DOI 10.4103/ijem.ijem_680_25
clinical_guidelineCited 2×
Read the paper DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10
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