CENTRAL OBESITY: AN IMPORTANT INDICATOR OF REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH IN YOUNG URBAN WOMEN OF KOLKATA

Abstract

Various studies have indicated that abdominal obesity in females may contribute to the onset of menstrual problems and other associative symptoms of Poly Cystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS), which create an alarming reproductive health concern in urban females. The current study was designed to assess whether there is a relation between obesity and menstrual irregularities and reproductive health risk factors among young urban females. Random samples of 75 young female college students from urban background were selected on the basis of their menstrual health status. Students with irregular menstruation along with markers of PCOS formed the study group and were compared with students having no reproductive health problems as control groups. Body mass index (BMI), Waist circumference, Hip circumference, Waist Hip Ratio (WHR), and Visceral Fat were measured following standardized protocols. The result showed a significant number of subjects from study group having high WHR and visceral fat content than normal subjects. On the contrary maximum number of subjects from control group showed normal WHR and visceral fat values. These data indicated that high abdominal fat accumulation and increased values of waist and hip circumference in females might be prominent markers of abnormal reproductive health issues like menstrual irregularities and PCOS. All these parameters may increase the risk for lifestyle diseases like Diabetes, CVD, even reproductive problems in later life if the conditions remain unscreened and untreated.