Normal Weight Obesity: An Underrecognized Problem in Individuals of South Asian Descent

Abstract

PURPOSE: Obesity has attained pandemic proportions across the world, and its prevalence in developing countries is also on the rise. Nevertheless, there is still a large gap in understanding the reasons behind a disproportionately high prevalence of diabetes as opposed to a lesser degree of obesity seen in individuals of South Asian origin. This research letter highlights the importance of identifying individuals with normal weight obesity, which may partially bridge this knowledge gap. METHODS: We reviewed recently published evidence on normal weight obesity. FINDINGS: Normal weight obesity is a common public health problem and may be prevalent in up to one-third of individuals of certain A..