Are You Overweight By South Asian Standards? You May Not Like The Answer!

South Asians may not appear to be as overweight as other ethnic groups. However, they may have inherited a gene that makes their bodies store more fat around their stomach, a condition known as central obesity. This type of body fat is linked to a higher rate of diabetes and heart attacks. The typical body shape of a South Asian who is at a high risk for these conditions involves a large stomach with relatively slender arms and legs. Standard body mass index (BMI) criteria for non-South Asians do not apply to South Asians. The world health organization has set an entirely different scale for South Asians, since very little excess weight goes a long way towards heart disease. Several studies have confirmed that heart disease and diabetes risk increases for South Asians once their BMI rises above 23. 25 is the cutoff for non-Asians. What if you have a good amount of muscle mass? In this case the waist-to-hip ratio is a better marker for heart disease risk since muscle mass can falsely elevate your BMI. The link below will provide a South Asian adjusted BMI calculator and also explains how to measure your waist-to-hip ratio at the bottom of the page:

South Asian Body Size

So if you start a diet and exercise program, focus not only on your weight, but also on whether your pants feel looser. Other South Asian resources for you are listed below:

South Asian Nutrition Page
South Asian Exercise Information
South Asian Health Page