Understanding the impact of urban exposure on obesity among middle and old-age migrants in India.

Rural-to-urban migration is associated with elevated obesity in Western settings. However, whether migration to urban areas ages has any impact on obesity in India is inconclusive and scarce. We, therefore, assessed the impact of migration on obesity among rural-to-urban migrants and compared it wit...

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Main Authors: Bittu Mandal, Kalandi Charan Pradhan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2025-01-01
Series:PLoS ONE
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0326096
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author Bittu Mandal
Kalandi Charan Pradhan
author_facet Bittu Mandal
Kalandi Charan Pradhan
author_sort Bittu Mandal
collection DOAJ
description Rural-to-urban migration is associated with elevated obesity in Western settings. However, whether migration to urban areas ages has any impact on obesity in India is inconclusive and scarce. We, therefore, assessed the impact of migration on obesity among rural-to-urban migrants and compared it with their rural counterparts. This study utilized the first wave of Longitudinal Ageing Study in India. BMI (BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2) and waist circumference (>102 cm and >88 cm for men and women, respectively) were employed to assess overall obesity and abdominal obesity. To fulfil the study objective, this study employed logistic and quantile regression techniques. The study found that individuals migrating from rural to urban areas are significantly more likely to develop obesity than rural stayers. Moreover, within the group of rural-urban migrants, prolonged urban residence was a strong and cumulative predictor for obesity. The risk of obesity was 1.91 times higher (those who lived 5 or fewer years in urban areas), 2.05 times higher (for 6-10 years), and 2.40 times higher (for more than 10 years) compared to their rural counterparts. This study identified migration and prolonged urban exposure as crucial risk factors for the development of obesity among middle-aged and older adults in India.
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spelling doaj-art-2e1a5c0ff8e843c385aba5d2367f908f2025-08-20T03:02:31ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032025-01-01207e032609610.1371/journal.pone.0326096Understanding the impact of urban exposure on obesity among middle and old-age migrants in India.Bittu MandalKalandi Charan PradhanRural-to-urban migration is associated with elevated obesity in Western settings. However, whether migration to urban areas ages has any impact on obesity in India is inconclusive and scarce. We, therefore, assessed the impact of migration on obesity among rural-to-urban migrants and compared it with their rural counterparts. This study utilized the first wave of Longitudinal Ageing Study in India. BMI (BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2) and waist circumference (>102 cm and >88 cm for men and women, respectively) were employed to assess overall obesity and abdominal obesity. To fulfil the study objective, this study employed logistic and quantile regression techniques. The study found that individuals migrating from rural to urban areas are significantly more likely to develop obesity than rural stayers. Moreover, within the group of rural-urban migrants, prolonged urban residence was a strong and cumulative predictor for obesity. The risk of obesity was 1.91 times higher (those who lived 5 or fewer years in urban areas), 2.05 times higher (for 6-10 years), and 2.40 times higher (for more than 10 years) compared to their rural counterparts. This study identified migration and prolonged urban exposure as crucial risk factors for the development of obesity among middle-aged and older adults in India.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0326096
spellingShingle Bittu Mandal
Kalandi Charan Pradhan
Understanding the impact of urban exposure on obesity among middle and old-age migrants in India.
PLoS ONE
title Understanding the impact of urban exposure on obesity among middle and old-age migrants in India.
title_full Understanding the impact of urban exposure on obesity among middle and old-age migrants in India.
title_fullStr Understanding the impact of urban exposure on obesity among middle and old-age migrants in India.
title_full_unstemmed Understanding the impact of urban exposure on obesity among middle and old-age migrants in India.
title_short Understanding the impact of urban exposure on obesity among middle and old-age migrants in India.
title_sort understanding the impact of urban exposure on obesity among middle and old age migrants in india
url https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0326096
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