NFHS-6 reveals higher obesity rates in urban Nagaland, while undernutrition and hypertension remain more prevalent rurally
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KOHIMA — More adults in urban Nagaland are overweight or obese than those living in rural areas, according to the latest National Family Health Survey (NFHS-6), which tracks key health, nutrition and social indicators across the country.
The survey for 2023-24 showed that 20.5% of women in urban areas were overweight or obese, compared to 15.1% in rural areas. Overall, 17.2% of women in the state were found to be overweight or obese, up from 14.4% recorded in the previous NFHS-5 survey.
Among men, 28.3% in urban areas were overweight or obese, significantly higher than the 21.4% recorded in rural areas. The overall prevalence among men stood at 23.7%.
While overweight and obesity were more common in urban areas, the survey found that undernutrition remained more prevalent in rural parts of the state.
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Women with a below-normal Body Mass Index (BMI) accounted for 9.9% in rural areas and 7.1% in urban areas. Overall, 8.8% of women had a below-normal BMI, down from 11.1% in the previous survey.
Among men, 8.4% in rural areas and 7.6% in urban areas had a below-normal BMI, with the statewide figure standing at 8.2%.
The survey also highlighted the prevalence of hypertension among adults aged 15 years and above, with men recording higher rates than women.
A total of 28.7% of men reported elevated blood pressure or were taking medication to control it, compared to 23.7% of women.
However, unlike overweight and obesity, hypertension was found to be more prevalent in rural areas than in urban centres.
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Among women, 24.3% in rural areas reported elevated blood pressure or were taking medication, compared to 22.7% in urban areas. Similarly, 29.2% of men in rural areas reported elevated blood pressure, compared to 27.9% in urban areas.
The survey further found that 10.9% of men and 10.2% of women had high to very high blood sugar levels or were taking medication to control blood sugar.
On indicators relating to violence against women, the survey recorded a decline in the proportion of ever-married women aged 18-49 years who reported experiencing spousal violence.
The prevalence stood at 4%, down from 6.5% recorded in NFHS-5. Rural areas recorded a slightly higher rate at 4.1%, compared to 3.8% in urban areas.
Women aged 18-49 years who reported experiencing physical violence during pregnancy accounted for 0.3%, marginally lower than the 0.4% recorded in the previous survey.
The survey also reported zero per cent among young women aged 18-29 years who said they had experienced sexual violence before the age of 18.