'The belly code': How diet and DNA make weight loss harder for Indians

Produced by: Manoj Kumar

Fat Inside

Indians carry more visceral fat than Europeans or Japanese, even at the same BMI—a hidden risk flagged by WHO's lower BMI cutoffs for Asians.

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Thin-Fat

Indian bodies often appear slim but hold high fat mass and low muscle—this "thin-fat" phenotype drives insulin resistance and metabolic trouble.

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Thrifty Genes

Indian DNA evolved to store fat efficiently for survival. Now, in an era of abundance, those same genes contribute to rapid weight gain.

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Carb Overload

Indians consume 60-70% of calories from carbs—mainly refined ones—fueling blood sugar spikes and fat storage more than Japanese or Europeans.

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Modern Drift

From millet to maida, Indian diets have shifted toward processed and fried foods, exacerbating obesity rates and diabetes risk.

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Still Sitting

Urban Indians are among the world’s least physically active, while Japanese and Europeans walk more and rely less on personal vehicles.

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Cultural Plate

Indian food culture encourages overeating through social norms and rich cooking methods, unlike Japan’s “hara hachi bu” restraint tradition.

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Microbiome Matters

Indian gut flora, shaped by diet and environment, differs sharply from Japanese, who harbor microbes adapted for seaweed and fermentation.

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Early Imprint

Undernutrition in Indian mothers can “program” children for obesity later, according to the developmental origins of health theory.

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