TOWARDS BETTER HEALTH - Obesity Guidelines for India.

OBESITY GUIDELINES FOR INDIA

The Health Ministry along with the Diabetes Foundation of India and 20 other national health organisations has released the first India-specific guidelines in November 2008, for prevention and management of obesity and metabolic syndrome.

New Guidelines -

• Overweight - if your BMI is 23 or more. The international standard is 25.
• Obese - if your BMI is 25 or more. The international standard is 30.
• An Indian qualifies for bariatric surgery for obesity if the BMI is 32.5 as opposed to 35 for international patients.
• Waist circumference indicating abdominal obesity - Men > 90 cm (as opposed to 102 cm as per international guidelines); Women > 80 cm (as opposed to 88 cm as per international guidelines)

Experts say that 6-8 crore Indians will benefit from the new guidelines because it will help to prevent greater numbers of diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. So, include weight management in your new year resolution list, for better health!