Unhealthy Weight among Children and Adults: Urbanicity and the Cross-over in Underweight and Overweight in India

Shivani Patel, Emory University
K. M. Venkat Narayan, Emory University
Solveig Argeseanu Cunningham, Emory University

Urbanization may drive the global rise of dual burdens of underweight and overweight in low- and middle-income countries. We assessed underweight and overweight by urban residence across the lifespan in India using nationally representative, directly-measured height and weight data among ages 0 to 54 y (2004-2006; n= 236,040). Total unhealthy weight was comparable in urban and rural populations: 38% of the urban and 36% of the rural population, amounting to 378 million underweight or overweight individuals in 2011. Within urban settings, the unhealthy weight burden was largely composed of underweight in childhood and overweight in adulthood. Within rural settings, the unhealthy weight burden was largely composed of underweight at all ages. There was more overweight and less underweight in urban compared to rural areas at nearly all ages. In light of aging and urbanization projections, India’s obesity advantage may be short-lived.