Original Research Article
Year: 2018 | Month: April | Volume: 8 | Issue: 4 | Pages: 82-86
Motherhood and Health of Young Indian Women: Prevalence of Obesity and Its Future Perspectives
Alka Pawalia1, Sivachidambaram Kulandaivelan2, Satya Savant3, Vikram Singh Yadav4
1Research Scholar/Assistant Professor, Department of Physiotherapy, GJUS&T, Hisar, Haryana, India
2Assistant Professor, Department of Physiotherapy, GJUS&T, Hisar, Haryana, India
3Senior Gynecologist, Savant Hospital, Hisar, Haryana, India
4Assistant Professor, College of Physiotherapy, Pt. B. D. Sharma University of Health Sciences, Rohtak, Haryana, India
ABSTRACT
Background: Future health of a nation is determined by the health of its young population. India is a young nation and hence its present health will decide the health of future generations. Similarly, the health of a mother decides the future health of the baby i.e. a fit mother will deliver a fit baby. Pregnancy period can be a crucial time to decide the health of the mother and the baby.
Objectives: To find the prevalence for overweight and obesity in women entering motherhood aged 18-32 years in Hisar city.
Methods: This paper presents secondary data from an ongoing clinical trial in pregnancy with 200 women entering motherhood. A questionnaire was used to record their socio-demographic data and types of obesity were measured using standard methods just before pregnancy.
Results: 35% of women were above the normal recommended ranges of BMI. The prevalence of overweight and obesity was 15% and 20% respectively in women just before entering motherhood. Also 37.5% of women were centrally obese which is directly associated with development of chronic lifestyle diseases in future. Conclusion: These figures show high prevalence of both general and central obesity among women of reproductive age. Young Indian women should be advised to maintain a healthy lifestyle to prevent development of obesity in them and its associated co morbidities in future generations, owing to a better health of the nation.
Key words: Obesity, overweight, BMI, waist circumference, central obesity.