TN women lose battle of bulge

Tamil Nadu is witnessing a growing problem among women. After Punjab and Kerala, Tamil Nadu is the state with the maximum number of obese women in the country. With 20.9% of the women in the age group of 15-49 having a body mass index which is above normal, the state is way ahead of the national average of 12.6.

The National Family Health Survey, 2009 shows that though Tamil Nadu is one of the states with the least number of malnourished women, it also has also a large number of obese women. Endocrinologists and dieticians blame this on the sudden change in lifestyle, generally sedentary habits of women and their genetic make up.

"Women in Tamil Nadu have been upwardly mobile and lot of them now go out to work. Though this is a very positive trend, women nowadays find no time to cook nutritious meals at home. This results in their having more junk food at erratic times. Long working hours add to the problem," says Dr Usha Sriram, an endocrinologist in the city. She also blames the decreased physical activity of women who do not find time to exercise between their hectic official schedules.

"Women in south India are genetically inclined to put on weight. Habits like squatting and sitting on the floor makes them more vulnerable to degenerative osteoarthritis. As a race we are a more academic and sedentary population and not a warrior race," says Dr Dr Prithvi Mohandass, consultant hip surgeon at MIOT hospitals.

Dieticians feel that increase in intake of carbohydrates and decrease in intake of vegetables, fruits and proteins are the main reasons for women putting on weight. "States like Tamil Nadu and Kerala are moving away from traditional diets -- lot of vegetables and red rice -- to have lot of carbohydrates and oil," says Dharini Krishnan, Consultant nutritionist and dietician. "Women by nature are also more prone to putting on weight because they have more fat cells than men, who have more muscle. Also men indulge in more physical activity than women and go to gyms," she says.

Vegetables, fruits and proteins like various pulses and dals are very important parts of our diet because vegetables regulate blood pressure and cholestrol, prevent certain cancers and are a rich source of vital vitamins and minerals which help bodily functions. "While most families in the state eat only 250-300 grams of vegetables a day, the prescribed intake is 600-800 grams of intake for a family of four," says Dr Dharini.