VISAKHAPATNAM: Urban Andhra Pradesh recorded higher obesity, high blood sugar levels and hypertension among adults, while underweight remained more common in rural areas, according to National Family Health Survey (NFHS-6) 2023-24.
The findings show that 57.3% of women aged 15-49 years in urban areas were overweight or obese, compared with 43.2% in rural areas. Among men in the same age group, the prevalence was 48.4% in urban areas and 38.1% in rural areas.
The prevalence of underweight was high in rural Andhra Pradesh. Among women aged 15-49 years, 12.3% in rural areas had a Body Mass Index (BMI) below the normal level, compared with 7.8% in urban areas. Among men, 14.5% in rural areas were underweight, against 9.7% in urban areas.
The survey found a higher rate of high blood sugar levels among adults in urban areas. Among women aged 15 years and above, 25.1% in urban areas had high or very high blood sugar levels or were taking medication to control blood sugar, compared with 20.2% in rural areas.
Among men, the prevalence stood at 26.8% in urban areas and 22.9% in rural areas.
Hypertension was also more common among urban residents. Among women aged 15 years and above, 25.8% in urban areas had elevated blood pressure or were taking medication to control it, compared with 23.3% in rural areas. Among men, 27.4% in urban areas had hypertension, against 25.4% in rural areas.
Among women, 10% in both urban and rural areas had mildly elevated blood pressure. Moderately or severely elevated blood pressure was reported in 6% of rural women and 5.2% of urban women.
Among men, 13.4% in urban areas and 12.5% in rural areas had mildly elevated blood pressure, while 3.5% of rural men and 3% of urban men had moderately elevated blood pressure. The survey, conducted across AP between June 28 and December 9, 2023, covered 11,503 households, including 10,418 women and 1,510 men.