Lifestyle diseases on the rise, metabolic risks spread across T dists | Hyderabad News

Hyderabad: Telangana is facing a growing metabolic health challenge, with women in 11 districts recording simultaneous increases in overweight or obesity, high blood sugar and elevated blood pressure, while men in seven districts reported rises in both high blood sugar and elevated BP, according to NFHS-6 data.The emerging trend has raised concern among doctors over the growing risk of diabetes, heart disease, stroke and other long-term complications. The combination of excess abdominal fat, high blood sugar, elevated BP and abnormal cholesterol levels is commonly associated with metabolic syndrome, a cluster of conditions that significantly increases the risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.However, the National Family Health Survey (NFHS) data does not establish whether the same individuals have all three conditions — excess weight, high blood sugar and elevated BP — simultaneously. Nevertheless, doctors say the findings are worrying, as they are increasingly seeing patients develop multiple metabolic risk factors, often at younger ages. Even the growing prevalence of individual risk factors is a cause for concern because of the complications they can trigger over time.A comparison of NFHS-6 and NFHS-5 findings shows that Bhadradri Kothagudem, Hanumakonda, Jangaon, Khammam, Mahabubabad, Nagarkurnool, Nalgonda, Siddipet, Suryapet, Wanaparthy and Yadadri Bhuvanagiri recorded increases in all three indicators among women.Hanumakonda recorded the sharpest increase in overweight or obesity among women, with the proportion rising from 32% to 51.3%, an increase of 19.3 percentage points. Jangaon reported the highest rise in high blood sugar, from 14.4% to 23.4%, while Mahabubabad recorded a 6.3 percentage point increase in elevated BP.Among men, Jangaon, Khammam, Mahabubabad, Nagarkurnool, Suryapet, Wanaparthy and Yadadri Bhuvanagiri recorded increases in both high blood sugar and elevated BP. Mahabubabad reported the sharpest rise in high blood sugar, from 16.5% to 28.3%. Wanaparthy, meanwhile, recorded the highest increase in elevated BP among these districts, with the proportion rising from 25.5% to 33.8%.Mahabubabad stands out for the rise in metabolic risk factors across both genders, with all three indicators increasing among women and both available indicators recording significant increases among men. Wanaparthy also showed a concerning trend, with increases in overweight or obesity and high blood sugar among women, alongside rises in both indicators among men.Dr L Sunandhini, general physician and internal medicine specialist at Amor Hospitals, said metabolic syndrome referred to a combination of conditions that occur together, including excess abdominal fat, high blood sugar, elevated BP and abnormal cholesterol levels. Having these risk factors together increases the likelihood of developing type 2 diabetes, heart disease and stroke.“NFHS data may not necessarily indicate that the same individuals have all these conditions, but in recent times doctors are increasingly seeing people present with multiple metabolic risks. Obesity is often the first trigger, followed by diabetes and, gradually, high BP. Stress and other factors also contribute to these health problems. Regular health check-ups and a healthy lifestyle are essential. Otherwise, diabetes-related organ damage can lead to serious complications over time,” she said.Doctors are also concerned about metabolic risks emerging at increasingly younger ages, with unhealthy lifestyles, poor dietary habits and inadequate physical activity contributing to the trend.Dr B Sravya, consultant endocrinologist at Kamineni Hospitals, said unhealthy lifestyles were contributing to an increase in metabolic problems among younger people.“Unlike earlier, when diabetes was more commonly seen after the age of 40, we are increasingly seeing younger patients develop metabolic risks. One common misconception is that diabetes, high BP and obesity are not serious if they do not cause pain or visible symptoms. As a result, some people stop monitoring their blood sugar and BP levels. However, these conditions can cause organ damage over time. The absence of symptoms does not mean they are safe,” she said.The complications can extend beyond the heart and blood vessels to vital organs such as the kidneys. Dr Srikanth Gundlapalli, senior consultant nephrologist and transplant physician at Asian Institute of Nephrology and Urology, said about 10% of diabetes patients developed diabetic kidney disease. When kidneys were affected by diabetes, patients were also likely to develop high BP.“It is important for people with diabetes to monitor their blood sugar levels and remain alert to any signs of organ deterioration,” he said.The risks can also be particularly serious for the feet, where even minor injuries can develop into severe complications in people with diabetes. Dr Narendranath Meda, clinical director of KIMS Group, stressed the importance of early intervention and regular foot care.“A small blister or tiny break in the skin may appear harmless, but in a person with diabetes it can lead to the loss of a toe, foot or even a leg. One of the best ways to put the message of early action into practice is by paying attention to foot health,” he said.Hyd presents mixed picture on metabolic healthHyderabad recorded a mixed trend in metabolic health indicators between NFHS-5 and NFHS-6, with high blood sugar increasing among both men and women, even as elevated BP declined.Among women, overweight or obesity declined marginally from 51% to 50.4%, while high blood sugar increased from 21.2% to 27.5%. Elevated BP also declined from 30.2% to 27.1%. Among men, high blood sugar rose from 26.8% to 30.2%, while elevated BP registered a sharper decline, from 41.7% to 30.7%.The findings indicate that despite improvements in elevated BP levels, rising blood sugar prevalence among both genders remains a concern.