Obesity among Indian women is emerging as a public health crisis with wide-ranging repercussions across all stages of a woman’s life, from menarche to menopause. According to the latest data from the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5), urban obesity in women has surged to 33.5%, while rural areas report a growing rate of 19.7%. This shift reflects how modern lifestyles are significantly impacting women’s health across demographics.
A latest study published in the Indian Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology Research—authored by specialists from the Indian Society of Assisted Reproduction—highlights the pressing need to address the obesity epidemic among women. In particular, it draws attention to gestational diabetes, a serious condition linked to maternal obesity.
In today’s fast-paced urban environments, where convenience often takes precedence over nutrition and physical activity, central obesity—characterised by fat accumulation around the abdomen—has become increasingly common among South Asian women.
This specific fat pattern, although often underestimated, is linked to heightened risks of chronic illnesses and reproductive complications.
One of the study’s most significant revelations is that 23.1% of women with obesity develop gestational diabetes, a condition that not only jeopardises the mother’s health but can also affect the child’s well-being during infancy and later life. In addition to gestational diabetes, obesity increases the likelihood of urinary incontinence by more than five times, a condition that severely affects quality of life yet remains underreported and undertreated.
“We’re increasingly seeing a strong link between obesity and fertility issues,” said Dr Shantha Kumari, Senior Consultant Obstetrician and Gynecologist, Past President of FOGSI and Treasurer of FIGO. “Women living with obesity often face longer times to conceive, increased miscarriage risks, and lower success rates even with assisted reproductive technologies. In a city like Hyderabad, where many women juggle intense work and family responsibilities, taking preventive steps before planning pregnancy is essential.”
Obesity is also a leading cause of urinary incontinence among women. “Women with obesity are over five times more likely to experience this condition compared to those at a healthy weight,” she noted Dr Lakshmi Chirumamilla, Fertility Specialist and Medical Director at a prominent Hyderabad-based fertility center, emphasised the need for a deeper understanding of obesity as a medical concern. “We need to create awareness that weight loss is not just about appearance—it’s about managing a chronic health condition. Obesity affects fertility and raises the risk of diabetes, high blood pressure, joint issues and can even lead to early-onset metabolic syndrome,” she said adding, “Obesity significantly increases the chances of developing endometrial and breast cancer. In terms of reproductive health, obese women have a higher likelihood of developing PCOS, which is a leading cause of infertility. Time to conception is longer and once a pregnancy is achieved, the risk of miscarriage and pregnancy-related complications increases drastically.”
Encouragingly, the study has also introduced a first-of-its-kind, step-wise clinical algorithm designed to guide obstetricians and gynecologists in assessing and treating obesity in Indian women. This protocol emphasises that even a modest 5–10% reduction in body weight can lead to significant health improvements.
Lifestyle modification remains the foundation of obesity management, with regular moderate exercise, a high-fiber, low-glycemic diet and in some cases, medication or bariatric surgery being key tools in treatment.
– Urban obesity among women stands at 33.5%, while rural obesity is at 19.7%, as per NFHS-5 data, with health consequences affecting women from adolescence through menopause.
– A concerning 23.1% of women with obesity develop gestational diabetes, increasing risks for both mother and child during and after pregnancy.
– Obesity is associated with over a fivefold increase in the risk of urinary incontinence among women.
– South Asian women are particularly susceptible to central obesity, fueled by high-carbohydrate diets, sedentary lifestyles, and low levels of physical activity.
