1 in every 2 adult men in Chandigarh overweight or obese: Survey

Chandigarh: Nearly one out of every two adult men in Chandigarh is overweight or obese, according to the newly released National Family Health Survey (NFHS-6, 2023–24), signalling a sharp escalation in the city’s metabolic crisis and reinforcing its reputation as a diabetes hotspot.The proportion of overweight or obese men has surged from 34.4% in NFHS-5 to 48.5%, far exceeding the national average of 27.3%, even as male undernutrition dropped to 7%. This worsening metabolic profile is reflected in blood sugar levels, with the share of men recording high or very high readings (above 140 mg/dl) rising from 16.6% to 17.1%.Among women, obesity has marginally declined from 44% to 41.9%, but remains significantly higher than the national average of 30.7%. Similarly, high blood sugar levels among women dipped from 19% to 17.8%, though still indicative of a high disease burden.Alarmingly, these patterns are beginning early, with the proportion of overweight children under five more than doubling from 1.8% to 4.1%, pointing to a growing intergenerational shift towards unhealthy lifestyles.Interestingly, elevated blood pressure has shown a decline in both genders — from 30.6% to 24.4% among men and from 25% to 22.4% among women — though experts caution that the overall risk profile remains concerning.Addressing why Chandigarh—often touted as a green city with ample walking spaces and an educated population—continues to witness a sharp rise in obesity, Dr Rama Walia of the department of endocrinology said weight management cannot be addressed through simple calorie counting or casual walking alone.“If weight management were just about energy in and energy out, everyone would be fit,” Dr Walia said, emphasising that a severe lack of resistance and strength training keeps people locked in a cycle of weight gain.Dr Walia noted that obesity acts as a trigger for both diabetes and hypertension, but genetic predisposition determines which condition manifests first. Those with a family history of hypertension are more likely to develop high blood pressure first, while individuals predisposed to diabetes will see blood sugar levels rise earlier — eventually creating a cycle where both conditions reinforce each other.The findings align with earlier ICMR data, which showed that nearly one in four Chandigarh residents suffers from diabetes or prediabetes, underlining the scale of the city’s growing public health challenge.BOX:Health Indicator----- ---------NFHS-5---- NFHS-6 --------------------National Avg.Male Obesity/Overweight--- 34.40%--- 48.50% -----------------------27.30%Female Obesity/Overweight-- 44.00%---- 41.90% -----------------------------30.70%High Blood Sugar (Men)-- 16.60% ------17.10% ----------------------------20.9% —High Blood Sugar (Women)-- 19.00%---- 17.80% ---------------------------17.8%Overweight Children (Under 5)-- 1.80%----- 4.10% ------------------------1.3% —Elevated Blood Pressure (Men)-- 30.60%---- 24.40% --------------------------22.1% —Elevated Blood Pressure (Women) 25.% -----22,4% ------------------------19.4% —According to an ICMR study, Chandigarh’ s prevalence of diabetes and prediabetes was one in every four . This was higher than the national average.Obesity acts as the ultimate catalyst for both diabetes and hypertension, but your DNA dictates how the dominoes fall:Family History of Hypertension? Obesity will trigger high blood pressure first.Family History of Diabetes? Obesity will cause your blood sugar to spike first.