Body Mass Index and Its Association With Selected Risk Factors for Non-Communicable Diseases in a Rural Area in Karnataka, India -

"Background: Body Mass Index (BMI) has been shown to be an important predictor of risk of non- communicable diseases (NCDs) and associated with risk factors for NCDs This study was conducted to determine the association of BMI with sociodemographic, biochemical (fasting glucose, lipid profile), blood pressure and anthropometric (waist hip measurements) risk factors for NCDs in a rural area. Methods: This cross sectional study was conducted in a village in Karnataka, through a house-to-house survey of persons ≥ 18 years of age, employing a questionnaire and laboratory investigations. Anthropometric measurements, blood pressure, fasting blood glucose and lipid profile was measured. Findings: Of the 585 subjects, 45%, 25.3%, 29.7% were in normal, underweight and pre-obese/obese BMI categories respectively. Prevalence of hypertriglyceridemia, abnormal HDL, systolic hypertension (≥ 140mmHg), diastolic hypertension (≥ 90mmHg) was 17.7%, 72.6%, 7.5% and 10.3% respectively In the pre-obese/obese category, 72.5% had abnormal waist circumference and WHR (41%) respectively. Association of BMI with gender, age, waist-hip ratio, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, fasting triglycerides (all P = 0.001) and HDL (P = 0.038) was observed. Conclusion: BMI was associated with increased waist circumference, dyslipidemia, increased fasting blood glucose and hypertension and are serious health problems in rural India also.