Hypertension in Individuals with Normal-Weight Obesity and Normal-Weight Central Obesity: A Study on Sunni Muslims of Uttar Pradesh, North India

Abstract

In practice, individuals who are found normal through various adiposity indicators are screened out from the risk of obesity and subsequently from other cardiometabolic syndromes like hypertension. Against this backdrop, this study aims to examine the prevalence of hypertension among individuals having normal-weight obesity (NWO) and normal-weight central obesity (NWCO). In the present study, Cross-sectional data of 214 participants (100 males and 114 females) were collected using purposive sampling. Adiposity indices like body mass index (BMI), percent body fat (PBF), waist circumference (WC), waist-to-height ratio (WHtR), and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) were calculated. Individuals were then categorized into NWO and NWCO. Systolic (SBP) and diastolic (DBP) blood pressure were also measured. All the data were analyzed using SPSS software. The prevalence of generalized obesity measured through BMI and PBF were 15% and 69.6% respectively. Central obesity measured through WC, WHR, and WHtR was 33.6%, 60.3%, and 11.2%, respectively. The prevalence of NWO in the total population was 21.9%. On the other hand, the prevalence of NWCO was 3.3%, 21.5%, and 12.1% as per WC, WHR, and WHtR respectively. The mean value of SBP and DBP was higher in individuals with NWO and NWCO. Preventive, interventional, and community-specific studies on NWO, NWCO, and their association with hypertension should be taken up by researchers who will help our policymakers in managing hypertension.