Healthy habits before 50 key to tackle genetic obesity risk

Hyderabad: If you are under 50 with a high genetic risk of obesity, your daily dietary habits and healthy lifestyle choices, including exercise, can have a larger impact on your weight than they would for older adults.This was found in a new study conducted by doctors from AIG Hospitals in collaboration with the University of Luxembourg and the University of Marburg, Germany. Noting that the risk of obesity among Indians is shaped by both genetic makeup and lifestyle habits, the study added that younger individuals with high genetic risk and unhealthy behaviours faced a significantly greater risk of obesity than older adults with similar genetic profiles, suggesting that early lifestyle interventions would benefit more in combating obesity.
The findings come at a time when metabolic diseases such as diabetes and fatty liver, as well as lifestyle-related conditions such as obesity and heart disease, are rising rapidly in India. A recent Lancet study also found that nearly two out of every five adults in Hyderabad are living with fatty liver disease, with obesity identified as a major risk factor. During the study, doctors analysed the genetic data of 6,663 Indians living in the UK (using the UK Biobank), along with a separate India-based group that included 91 participants from across the country, including those from Hyderabad.The study showed that obesity risk varied depending on an individual's genetic risk and lifestyle habits. The connection between genes and lifestyle was clearly observed in the larger group and showed a similar pattern in the Indian group. The analysis also found that healthy lifestyle changes may be especially important for younger people with higher inherited risk. Doctors said that lifestyle changes work best below 50 years, when the body can still easily build muscle and reduce fat. After 60, due to ageing and hormonal changes, muscle loss (sarcopenia) increases, and lifestyle changes are harder to reverse the risk.Calling for India-specific guidelines on obesity, Dr D Nageshwar Reddy, chairman of AIG Hospitals and study author, said that obesity guidelines in India need revision to reflect Indian body patterns. "Indians are more prone to abdominal (truncal) obesity, which increases metabolic risk even at lower body weights. We should redefine obesity according to Indian standards," he said.Moreover, the doctors argued that the age-related findings are especially important for Indians, who often develop metabolic problems such as diabetes, fatty liver disease and heart problems at lower body mass index (BMI) levels than Western populations, making early prevention even more important.Dr Rakesh Kalapala, director, centre for obesity & metabolic therapy at AIG Hospitals, emphasised the need to start metabolic screening early, focus on waist size and belly fat — not just body weight — and promote healthy lifestyles from early adulthood. "Moving forward, prevention strategies must become more risk-informed rather than universally applied," he added. Dr Reddy, senior gastroenterologist, advised regular physical activity, recommending about 25 minutes of aerobic exercise such as walking, running or swimming, along with muscle-strengthening exercises as part of weekly fitness routines.