SURVEY: 41% of population in Ludhiana above ideal body weight

Ludhiana, December 25, 2012: The results of an 11-city survey by AC Nielsen, on obesity related trends, were announced by Dr. K. S. Kular, Executive Member of the Obesity Surgery Society of India, today.

The survey, commissioned by Johnson & Johnson, revealed that 41% of population of Ludhiana weighs above ideal body weight. Furthermore, 47% of all people above their ideal body weight suffer from atleast one co morbidity, associated with obesity and nearly 24% are unaware of existing conditions since they have never consulted a doctor.

Commenting on the survey results, Dr. Kular, said, “Obesity is a serious health issue that can lead to a large number of comorbidities such as cardiovascular disorders, diabetes etc. It should be treated scientifically and systematically through consultations with a specialist. Unfortunately, according to the survey, 49% of obese people in Ludhiana have never done anything to tackle their problem of obesity.”

Adding further, Dr. Kular, said, “Survey has indicated that 40% of the morbidly obese people across the 11 locations that were surveyed have their BMI > 50, of which 12% contribution is from Ludhiana.  Morbid obesity is a severe form of obesity where weightloss cannot be achieved merely by making lifestyle changes. Bariatric surgery is the only safe and scientifically approved option for weightloss among morbidly obese patients. The use of laparoscopic surgical techniques has made bariatric surgery a safe, simple and hassle free procedure.”

AC Nielsen survey has highlighted that overweight individuals in Ludhiana feel that the top three causes for prevalence of obesity in Ludhiana are – eating oily or fatty food, irregular eating habits, and eating sweets.

The term ‘Obesity’ or ‘Obese’ is referred to denote all people above their ideal body weight: Overweight: BMI: 23 to 27.4;  Obese: BMI: 27.5 to 37.5;  Morbidly obese: > 37.5

11 Cities surveyed by AC Nielsen – Delhi, Ludhiana, Jaipur, Mumbai, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Nagpur, Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Cochin

Dr. K. S. Kular , Executive Member  of the Obesity Surgery Society of India ( OSSI), is the founder and MD of Kular Hospital in Ludhiana. He is an Executive Member of the Obesity Surgery Society of India and has a Fellowship in Minimal Access Surgery. He is a pioneer in conducting Mini Gastric Bypass Surgery.