Changes in body mass index and three-year incidence of overweight/obesity among urban women aged 30-40 years in Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India: A non-concurrent cohort study.

Background: Although studies often report the prevalence of obesity, community-based studies reporting the incidence of overweight or obesity in India are scarce. Such incidence data are crucial for improving projections about the future burden of obesity.

Methods: A non-concurrent follow-up study was done in 2015 in urban Vellore, Tamil Nadu, among two groups of women aged 30-40 years, with body mass index (BMI) <25 kg/m (normal) and BMI ≥25 kg/m (overweight/obese) in 2012, to assess changes in BMI.