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Indians and their potbellies are quite famous across the globe. For a long time, pot bellies have been considered as badges of prosperity and indulgence. In various facets of life, pot bellies have held different meanings. While in a rural area, there have been signs of healthy eating, in films and politics they have signalled corruption. But did you know that this soft pot belly is a raising alarm for health concerns?
In 2021, India had the second-highest number of overweight or obese adults with 180 million. As per a new study by Lancet, this number is expected to increase as high as 450 million by 2050, which is nearly a third of the country’s projected population. On a global level, more than half of adults and a third of children are set to have the same fate.
What defines a pot belly?
Image credits: Getty Images
Potbelly in medical terms is known as abdominal obesity. Here, the fat gets accumulated around the belly. As per the Indian guidelines, abdominal obesity can be defined as a waist over 90cm for men and 80cm for women.
Many studies back in the 1990s, presented a clear link between belly fat and chronic diseases such as Type 2 diabetes and heart disease.
There are other types of obesity as well, such as peripheral obesity which is around the hips, thighs and buttocks and generalised obesity, which is when the entire body as fat spreads out evenly.
Why do Indians have pot belly?
Have you ever wondered why pot bellies are common in Indians? Well, a theory titled the Thrifty Gene Theory which was proposed by geneticist James V. Neel in 1962 has the answer to this question. The theory suggests an evolutionary reason, stating that in early history, India for centuries was effected by famines. In this condition, the thrifty genes deposited fat in the abdominal part of the body which is also the most expandable part of the body to help people with these genes survive hunger and food scarcity. However, over time as food became more accessible, the fat storage continued to grow to such harmful levels that Indians have now become obese. “It’s a conjectural but plausible evolutionary theory – one that can’t be proven, but makes sense,” said Anoop Misra, who heads Delhi’s Fortis-C-DOC Centre of Excellence for Diabetes, Metabolic Diseases and Endocrinology to BBC.
Abdominal obesity in India
In India, abdominal obesity is a rising concern. As per the most recent National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5), about 40% of women and 12% of men in India suffer from abdominal obesity.
Abdominal obesity or pot belly can make the body resistant to insulin where the body stops properly responding to insulin, the hormone that regulates blood sugar. It can also lead to diabetes, heart disease and stroke.
How to prevent abdominal obesity?
Image credits: Getty Images
As per experts you need to adopt tougher lifestyle changes. While European men are advised to perform 150 minutes of weekly exercise, South Asian men need to perform around 250-300 minutes to offset slower metabolism and less efficient fat storage, as per a study by the University of Glasgow.
Eating a healthy diet that limits trans fat, refined sugar, sodium and processed food is also helpful. A good sleep schedule and avoiding any form of drugs in smoking, alcohol and tobacco consumption is also vital.
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