Migration from rural to urban areas
markedly increases diabetes rates
A detailed study was conducted as part of the nation-wide ICMR–INDIAB study. This study was conducted on 1,13,043 participants aged
≥20 years across 28 states and 2 union territories of India. The aim of
the study was to compare the prevalence of diabetes as well as other
metabolic disorders including hypertension and obesity among the migrant
and non-migrant residing at urban and rural areas of India. The study
was led by Dr. R. Guha Pradeepa, Senior Scientist at the Madras Diabetes Research Foundation (MDRF) Chennai along with a team of scientists.
Commenting on the study, Dr. R. Guha Pradeepa, the first author of the study
said “The prevalence of diabetes was 14.7% among rural to urban
migrants, 13.2% among those permanently residing in urban areas, 12.7%
among urban to rural migrants and 7.7% among those who were permanently
residing in rural areas rural dwellers. Over half of the population who
migrated from rural to urban areas had abdominal obesity (i.e.,
increased waist circumference) and this was considerably higher compared
to the other three groups. The risk for diabetes was nearly two times
higher in those who migrated from rural to urban areas compared to rural
occupants. Five risk factors [hypertension, abdominal and generalized
obesity, physical inactivity and low fruit and vegetable intake]
together explained 70% of increase of diabetes rates among the migrants
from rural to urban areas.”
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