DOI: 10.4103/jmh.jmh_207_25 ISSN: 0976-7800

Investigating the Health Implications of Asymptomatic Obesity through Clinical and Epidemiological Metrics in the Population of Lucknow and Adjoining Areas

Arti Yadav, Satyendra Kumar Sonkar, Vikas Bharti, Suchit Swaroop

A
BSTRACT

Background:

Even when there are no obvious chronic illnesses present, obesity can cause hidden health issues. Obese people who are asymptomatic may have early, frequently undetectable physiological and clinical alterations. For prompt prevention and management, it is important to comprehend these early consequences.

Objectives:

To evaluate the early physiological and clinical effects of asymptomatic obesity in adults without diagnosed chronic illness and to explore the role of anthropometric indicators in timely identifying hidden health risks.

Materials and Methods:

A cross-sectional study in which 90 asymptomatic obese subjects of both sexes, aged 18–60 years, who attended outpatient department, were included. Anthropometric, demographic, and clinical parameters were recorded.

Results:

The study found a higher obesity rate among asymptomatic obese subjects in the age groups 40–49 and 50–60 (28%) with a body mass index (BMI) of 25–29.5, and in the 30–39 age group (35%) with a BMI of 30–45. A significant positive correlation was found between hip circumference (HC) and waist–height ratio (WHtR) ( r = 0.396, P = 0.000). In addition, differences in WHtR and systolic blood pressure were noted ( P < 0.05 for both genders). In the BMI range of 25–29.9, approximately 15.5% of subjects experienced joint-related pain, whereas 20% faced both stress and sleep-related issues along with joint pain. About 16.6% subjects in the BMI range of 30–45 had stress and sleep-related issues with joint-related pains.

Conclusion:

Asymptomatic obesity in adults aged 30–49 years shows early signs of physical and psychological strain despite the absence of diagnosed chronic illness. Significant correlations among BMI, waist circumference, and HC support their role in early risk detection. Joint pain, stress, and sleep disturbances were common, indicating hidden health impacts. These findings highlight the need for early screening and preventive care to reduce long-term risks.