Prevalence of Obesity Using Anthropometric Indices and Its Associated Factors Among Older Adults in India: Findings from LASI Data

Abstract

The prevalence of obesity varies depending on different obesity-related anthropometric parameters, but combined obesity is a parameter that is more suitable to represent the overall burden of obesity. The present study assesses combined obesity using anthropometric parameters and associates it with socio-demographic and behavioural practices. The study used the Longitudinal Ageing Study in India data from 2017 to 2019, encompassing a total population of 57,237 people aged 45 years and older. All the data were analysed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences software (version 27.0). India has a high prevalence of combined general obesity (CGO; 67.2%), combined central obesity (CCO; 87.2%) and overall combined obesity (OCO; 89.6%), with 24.8% of individuals experiencing either general or central obesity, while 64.8% experienced dual types of obesity. In the case of all socio-demographic and behavioural practices-related variables, females show a significantly higher risk of CGO (cOR = 10.74; aOR = 12.04; p < .001), CCO (cOR = 4.44; aOR = 4.11; p < .001) and OCO (cOR = 8.25; aOR = 7.75; p < .001) compared to males. The study suggests that improving nutritional status and promoting healthy lifestyle behaviours among older adults may significantly enhance their health conditions.