Abdominal Obesity A Stepping Stone to Non Communicable Diseases in South Asia

Abstract

This article provides an overview of the relationship between abdominal obesity (AO) and Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) in South Asia. A literature review has been conducted using key words: Abdominal obesity, Non-Communicable Diseases, Adipokines and South Asia, searching Scopus, Pubmed, Google scholar and Medline databases. South Asians suffer from abdominal obesity that results in systematic inflammation giving rise to excess production of harmful adipokines that eventually leads to the occurrence of NCDs. The incidence of NCDs related mortality ranges between 44 per cent - 84 per cent. Impaired developments during pregnancy may also have a linkage with AO and NCDs. Adipokines and fat derivatives produced in abundance by the abdominal fat tissues have a crucial implication in the progression of NCDs. South Asians have unhealthy metabolic profile leading to several forms of NCDs. Further research needs to be done in the population groups suffering from abdominal obesity to derive interventional strategies to prevent as well as manage NCDs in clinical settings.