Is Sedentary Lifestyle Increasing the Risk of Obesity in Urban Adult Academic Professionals? An Epidemiological Study in West Bengal, India

Abstract

Abstract Background: Ectopic fat deposition is more strongly associated with obesity related health problems including T2DM, CVD, thyroidism, arthritis etc. Objectives: Our study aimed at identifying the cumulative role of several risk factors in developing obesity and the role of ectopic fat (visceral fat) in predicting the cardiovascular disease risk in varied age groups among urban adult academic professionals in West Bengal. Methods: 650 adults (Male= 456; Female=194) associated with academic job (age 20-65 years) in urban West Bengal were randomly selected for anthropometric, blood biochemical and questionnaire-based analyses. Result: Body Mass Index and Visceral Fat% exhibited comparable association with all the other anthropometric parameters (e.g. Whole body Subcutaneous fat%: male- Linear Regression Comparison: F= 11.68; P<0.001; female- F= 6.11; P<0.01). Therefore, VF% acts as a risk factor alongside BMI in instances where BMI fails alone. Presence of T2DM, hypertension and thyroidism in the case groups confirmed their obesity associated longitudinal pattern of inheritance. Unhealthy diet pattern indicates improper liver functioning, vitamin D deficiency and increased erythrocytic inflammation. Conclusion: An overall sedentary lifestyle with parental history of obesity was found to be significant in the longitudinal transmission of the disease.