EPIDEMIOLOGIC-STUDY OF CENTRAL OBESITY, INSULIN-RESISTANCE AND ASSOCIATED DISTURBANCES IN THE URBAN-POPULATION OF NORTH-INDIA

Central obesity in association with insulin resistance is a strong pre dictor of coronary artery disease (CAD) in South Asians; however the p revalence of central obesity and insulin resistance in Indians are unk nown. Anthropometric measurements, dietary intakes, physical activity and prevalence of risk factors and CAD were obtained in 152 adults bet ween 26-65 years of age (80 males, 72 females) selected by random samp ling from urban population of Moradabad. The overall prevalence of cen tral obesity was 539 per 1000 adults including 56.2 % in males and 51. 3 % in females, The prevalence of glucose intolerance, diabetes mellit us, hypertension, hypertriglyceridemia and CAD were significantly high er in the higher quintiles of WHR above 0.88 compared to lower quintil es. Fasting and postprandial glucose, plasma insulin and triglycerides as well s total cholesterol and blood pressure were significantly hig her in each of the upper quintile of WHR with increase in WHR compared to lowest quintile of WHR below 0.81. These findings indicate the exi stence of a modest degree of insulin resistance with a modest tendency to central obesity in the urban population of North India. The preval ence of CAD was significantly (p<0.01) higher among subjects with cent ral obesity than in non-obese subjects (21.5 vs 3.2 %). Underlying the se findings, the prevalence of central obesity was significantly great er among sedentary and mild activity group compared to moderate and he avy activity group and per day energy expenditure during activity in t he upper quintiles with WHR >0.88 was significantly less compared to e nergy expenditure in lower quintiles of WHR. Similarly dietary fat int ake in the upper quintiles of WHR was also significantly higher than i n the lower quintiles of WHR. These findings suggest that populations with higher prevalence of central obesity and CAD may be benefited wit h an aim to decrease central obesity.