Background
Low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) around the globe are undergoing a nutrition transition, characterized by shifting dietary and physical activity patterns [
1‐
3]. In India, dietary changes include increased intakes of vegetable oils, refined grains, and processed foods, as well as reduced consumption of legumes and coarse cereals [
4,
5]. Levels of inactivity are also rising as manual labour is replaced by sedentary work, and leisure activities remain relatively inaccessible and unpopular [
4]. The combined result of such dietary and lifestyle changes has been a population-level increase in over-nutrition leading to obesity and associated diseases. Indeed, prevalence of obesity and overweight increased in excess of 125% from 2003 to 2015 and is currently 30–40% in some urban populations and 15–30% in some rural populations [
6,
7]. Consequently, obesity-related cardio-metabolic diseases are becoming severe public health concerns in India; for example, prevalence of type 2 diabetes is 10–18% in urban and 5–13% in rural populations [
8‐
10], while mortality due to ischemic heart disease and stroke account for 21% of all deaths [
11].
Meanwhile, despite rapid economic development and associated dietary and lifestyle changes, many regions of India continue to experience poverty, food insecurity, and poor access to health services, which contribute to persistent problems of undernutrition and related deficiencies. India has the highest number of severely undernourished people in the world (190 million), representing 15% of its entire population [
12]. Approximately 23% of women and 20% of men (age 15–49) are underweight [
7]. Additionally, micronutrient deficiencies and associated disorders affect a large portion of the population, particularly in rural regions, where 70% of Indians reside [
7,
13]. In particular, iron-deficiency anemia affects 53.1% of women of childbearing age and is a widely used marker of undernutrition [
7].
The combined burdens of overweight and obesity-related diseases, in addition to undernutrition and micronutrient deficiencies, is called the ‘double burden’ of malnutrition. This double burden is common in LMICs undergoing the nutrition transition and has been reported in Latin America [
14‐
16], South Asia [
17], Southeast Asia [
2,
18], Eastern Europe [
2], and Africa [
19,
20]. In India, the double burden of malnutrition is well-established at the national level [
7]; however, the co-occurrence of over-nutrition and undernutrition also exists at the household and individual levels [
21,
22]. Individual-level double burden may occur when a person experiences co-morbid indicators of over-nutrition (e.g. obesity, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease) and undernutrition (e.g. underweight, stunting, and micronutrient deficiencies). Yet, the individual-level double burden of malnutrition has received limited attention by researchers, especially in rural regions of India where poverty, food insecurity, and poor access to healthcare services are pervasive despite rapid changes in diets, lifestyles, and livelihoods [
23]. Against this backdrop, this cross-sectional study had two objectives. First, we evaluated the extent of the individual-level double burden of malnutrition in a rural region of northwestern Tamil Nadu, India by assessing two co-morbidities: (1) anemia and overweight; and (2) anemia and diabetes. Second, we determined associations between these co-morbidities and several socio-economic, environmental, dietary, and lifestyle factors. Overall, we aim to contribute to research on the severity and determinants of the individual-level double burden of malnutrition in rural South India.
Results
A total of 812 individuals were recruited for the study. Of these, 753 ultimately participated, including 341 men and 412 women. Response rate was 87.4% among men and 99.2% among women. In total, 752 (92.6%) completed a FFQ and 749 (92.2%) participated in the oral glucose tolerance test and submitted capillary blood samples for hemoglobin assessment. The mean age of participants was 47 (range 20–92). Over three-quarters (75.7%) of women were illiterate, compared to just over half (50.4%) of men. On average, men were more educated than women as measured by years of schooling.
Sex-specific unadjusted clinical and sociodemographic characteristics are presented in Table
1. Age- and sex-standardized prevalence of underweight, overweight, obesity class I, and obesity class II among the study population were 22.7, 14.9, 16.1, and 3.3% respectively. Age- and sex-standardized prevalence of IFG, IGT, and type 2 diabetes were 3.9, 5.6, and 10.8% respectively. Of those with type 2 diabetes, 56.4% were previously undiagnosed. Age- and sex-standardized prevalence of mild, moderate, and severe anemia were 19.9, 22.6, and 4.8% respectively. Anemia (mild, moderate, or severe) affected a greater proportion of women (57.2%) than men (35.2%).
Table 1Sex-specific clinical and sociodemographic characteristics of a sample of adults (> 19 years) in rural South India
Age (y) | | | | | 0.10 |
20–34 | 69 | 20.2 | 95 | 23.1 | |
35–49 | 115 | 33.6 | 147 | 35.7 | |
50–64 | 105 | 30.7 | 111 | 26.9 | |
65+ | 52 | 15.2 | 58 | 14.1 | |
Height (cm) | 340 | 165 (7.0) | 407 | 154 (6.6) | < 0.001 |
Stunting (men/women< 163.6/151.8 cm) | 120 | 35.3 | 129 | 31.7 | 0.26 |
Body Mass Index (kg/m2) (BMI) | 340 | 21.6 (3.91) | 406 | 22.0 (4.49) | 0.10 |
BMI Categories |
Underweight (< 18.5) | 84 | 24.7 | 85 | 20.9 | |
Normal weight (≥18.5 & < 23 kg/m) | 139 | 40.9 | 162 | 39.9 | |
Overweight (≥23 and < 25 kg/m2) | 56 | 16.5 | 62 | 15.2 | |
Obese class I (≥25 and < 30 kg/m2 | 55 | 16.2 | 77 | 19.0 | |
Obese class II (≥30 kg/m2) | 6 | 1.8 | 20 | 4.9 | |
Waist circumference (cm) | 337 | 82 (11.3) | 407 | 78 (12.5) | < 0.001 |
Abdominal obesity categories (waist circumference) |
Non-obese (men/women < 90/< 80 cm) | 252 | 74.8 | 236 | 58.0 | |
Obese (men/women ≥90/≥80 cm) | 85 | 25.2 | 171 | 42.0 | |
Hemoglobin (Hb) (g/dL) | 336 | 13.4 (2.48) | 407 | 11.5 (5.77) | < 0.001 |
Anemia (Hb concentrations) |
No (men/women ≥130/≥120 g/dL) | 215 | 64.0 | 171 | 42.0 | |
Mild anemia (men/women 110–129/110–119 g/dL) | 75 | 22.3 | 74 | 18.2 | |
Moderate anemia (men/women 80–109/70–109 g/dL) | 37 | 11.0 | 148 | 36.4 | |
Severe anemia (men/women < 80/< 70 g/dL) | 9 | 2.7 | 14 | 3.4 | |
High blood pressure (SBP ≥ 140 mmHg and/or DBP ≥ 90 mmHg and/or treatment with blood pressure medication) | 105 | 31.1 | 117 | 28.8 | 0.51 |
Glucose tolerance and diabetes |
Impaired fasting glucose (fasting CBG 6.1–6.9 mmol/L) | 8 | 2.4 | 17 | 4.2 | 0.17 |
Impaired glucose tolerance (fasting CBG < 7 mmol/L and a 2-h post glucose CBG ≥8.9 mmol/L but < 12.2 mmol/L) | 17 | 5.0 | 24 | 5.9 | 0.60 |
Diabetes (proof of previous diagnosis and/or fasting CBG ≥7 mmol/L and/or 2-h post prandial CBG value ≥12.2 mmol/L) | 47 | 13.8 | 48 | 11.7 | 0.40 |
Education | | | | | < 0.001 |
Illiterate | 174 | 51.0 | 315 | 76.5 | |
Literate, less than primary school | 94 | 27.6 | 48 | 11.7 | |
Primary school | 59 | 17.3 | 46 | 11.2 | |
Secondary/post-secondary school | 14 | 4.1 | 3 | 0.7 | |
Wealth Index | | | | | < 0.001 |
Low | 108 | 31.7 | 200 | 48.5 | |
Middle | 217 | 63.6 | 188 | 45.6 | |
High | 16 | 4.7 | 24 | 5.8 | |
Tobacco use | | | | | < 0.001 |
Current users | 173 | 51.3 | 279 | 68.9 | |
Not current users | 164 | 48.7 | 126 | 31.1 | |
Double burden pairings were prevalent among participants (Table
2). Overall prevalence of co-morbid anemia and overweight or obesity was 23.1% among women and 13.1% among men. Meanwhile, prevalence of co-morbid anemia and pre-diabetes was 6.2% among women and 2.4% among men, and co-morbid anemia and diabetes was 5.9% among women and 6.3% among men. Only 12.9% of participants (8.7% of women and 17.9% of men) did not have any indicator of either over- or undernutrition (diabetes, overweight, obesity, abdominal obesity, hypertension, stunted, anemia, or underweight), indicating a small proportion of the population were adequately nourished and cardio-metabolically healthy.
Table 2Double burden of malnutrition characterization in a sample of adults from rural South India
Anemia and overweight or obese | 44 | 13.1 | 94 | 23.1 | < 0.001 |
Anemia and pre-diabetes | 8 | 2.4 | 25 | 6.2 | 0.01 |
Anemia and diabetes | 21 | 6.3 | 24 | 5.9 | 0.84 |
Anemia and hypertension | 40 | 12.0 | 67 | 16.6 | 0.07 |
Stunted and overweight | 43 | 12.6 | 54 | 13.3 | 0.79 |
Stunted and pre-diabetes | 7 | 2.1 | 15 | 3.7 | 0.19 |
Stunted and diabetes | 19 | 5.6 | 16 | 3.9 | 0.29 |
Stunted and hypertension | 32 | 9.5 | 40 | 9.9 | 0.85 |
Descriptive characteristics of the study population by diagnostic category of DBP1 and DBP2 are displayed in Tables
3 and
4, respectively. A significant difference in means or proportions between categories of DBP1 was seen for several attributes, including age, sex, rurality, wealth index, physical activity habits, and dietary intake. Additionally, a significant difference in means or proportions between categories of DBP2 was seen for several characteristics, including age, sex, rurality, family history, religion, wealth index, physical activity, and dietary intake.
Table 3Clinical, sociodemographic, and dietary characteristics by double burden diagnostic category in a sample of adults from rural South India
Descriptive characteristics |
Age | 44.9 ± 15.0 | 51.5 ± 16.1 | 45.5 ± 11.7 | 46.2 ± 13.3 | < 0.001a,d,e |
Women (%) | 41.7 | 65.1 | 49.0 | 68.1 | < 0.001a,c,d,f |
Hypertension (%) | 22.4 | 24.1 | 41.5 | 40.1 | < 0.001a,b,d,e |
Rurality Index | −0.21 ± 1.31 | −0.24 ± 1.14 | −0.94 ± 1.41 | −1.07 ± 1.21 | < 0.001b,c,d,e |
Current tobacco consumer (%) | 44.1 | 44.7 | 34.7 | 25.7 | 0.001c,e |
Muslim (Hindu as referent) religion (%) | 3.6 | 1.8 | 5.5 | 5.1 | 0.24 |
Wealth and possession attributes |
Wealth index | 11.00 ± 4.31 | 9.56 ± 4.35 | 12.17 ± 4.81 | 11.73 ± 5.10 | < 0.001a,d,e |
High-quality (pucca) housing (%) | 10.7 | 8.3 | 20.7 | 18.8 | 0.001b,d,e |
Land ownership (acres) | 1.50 ± 1.85 | 1.20 ± 1.54 | 1.21 ± 1.86 | 1.07 ± 1.99 | 0.11 |
Livestock ownership (%) | 51.8 | 46.3 | 34.5 | 25.5 | < 0.001b.c,e |
In-house tap water (%) | 7.5 | 5.5 | 11.7 | 9.4 | 0.18 |
Physical activity habits |
Physical Activity (hours/day of moderate physical activity) | 4.55 ± 3.66 | 3.98 ± 3.43 | 3.59 ± 3.77 | 3.38 ± 3.77 | 0.008c |
Sedentary time (hours/day) | 4.06 ± 2.50 | 4.42 ± 2.85 | 4.76 ± 2.91 | 4.9 ± 2.70 | 0.0093 |
Television time (hours/day) | 1.33 ± 1.26 | 1.23 ± 1.24 | 1.68 ± 1.36 | 1.81 ± 1.33 | < 0.001c,d,e |
Labour occupation (%) | 54.7 | 64.5 | 47.6 | 44.9 | 0.001d,e |
Dietary intake (g/1000 kcal unless otherwise specified) |
Current alcohol consumer (%) | 52.3 | 41.7 | 49.7 | 44.2 | 0.10 |
Total energy intake (kcal/day) | 2436 ± 868 | 2307 ± 634 | 2436 ± 694 | 2353 ± 643 | 0.20 |
Carbohydrates | 179.8 ± 15.6 | 183.2 ± 13.3 | 176.3 ± 14.7 | 176.7 ± 12.9 | < 0.001d,e |
Protein | 25.8 ± 2.1 | 25.3 ± 1.8 | 25.8 ± 1.9 | 25.7 ± 1.7 | 0.031 |
Total fat | 19.2 ± 5.5 | 18.3 ± 5.1 | 20.9 ± 5.0 | 21.3 ± 4.8 | < 0.001b,c,d,e |
Dietary fibre | 22.4 ± 5.2 | 22.6 ± 5.3 | 21.3 ± 5.0 | 20.7 ± 4.6 | < 0.001c,d,e |
Dairy products | 81.0 ± 73.0 | 75.0 ± 65.4 | 81.6 ± 65.3 | 89.2 ± 65.1 | 0.29 |
Pulses and legumes | 26.4 ± 11.4 | 26.2 ± 12.1 | 28.7 ± 12.2 | 29.2 ± 10.7 | 0.005 |
Meat and poultry | 3.8 ± 4.9 | 2.4 ± 2.5 | 3.4 ± 03.9 | 2.8 ± 03.9 | < 0.001a |
Fruits and vegetables | 73.0 ± 46.7 | 68.7 ± 42.4 | 83.3 ± 49.0 | 87.2 ± 56.1 | < 0.001d,e |
Refined grains | 63.6 ± 34.3 | 63.3 ± 31.9 | 71.5 ± 27.0 | 74.4 ± 32.7 | 0.001c,e |
Table 4Clinical, sociodemographic, and dietary characteristics by double burden diagnostic category in a sample of adults from rural South India
Descriptive characteristics |
Age | 44.6 ± 14.0 | 48.7 ± 15.4 | 48.9 ± 12.7 | 54.9 ± 13.4 | < 0.001a,c |
Women (%) | 44.2 | 67.8 | 45.7 | 54.8 | < 0.001a,d |
Hypertension (%) | 25.8 | 28.2 | 56.5 | 46.3 | < 0.001b,c,d |
Rurality Index | 0.14 ± 1.77 | 0.092 ± 1.60 | − 096 ± 1.96 | −0.83 ± 1.49 | < 0.001b,c,d,e |
Current tobacco consumer (%) | 41.2 | 37.2 | 37.0 | 38.1 | 0.76 |
Family history of diabetes (%) | 7.7 | 7.6 | 36.9 | 28.6 | < 0.00b,c,d,e |
Muslim (Hindu as referent) religion (%) | 3.4 | 2.2 | 10.9 | 9.5 | 0.006d |
Wealth and possession attributes |
Wealth index | 11.38 ± 4.45 | 10.39 ± 4.71 | 11.85 ± 5.14 | 10.50 ± 5.22 | 0.02 |
Pucca housing (%) | 13.1 | 11.8 | 23.9 | 16.7 | 0.14 |
Land ownership (acres) | 1.42 ± 1.83 | 1.22 ± 1.79 | 1.18 ± 2.04 | 0.68 ± 1.09 | 0.06 |
In-house tap water (%) | 7.1 | 6.4 | 23.9 | 11.9 | < 0.001b,d |
Physical activity habits |
Physical Activity (hours/day of moderate physical activity) | 4.47 ± 3.73 | 3.92 ± 3.56 | 2.16 ± 3.00 | 2.47 ± 3.44 | < 0.001b,c,d |
Sedentary time (hours/day) | 4.19 ± 2.63 | 4.53 ± 2.78 | 5.38 ± 2.87 | 5.33 ± 2.86 | 0.007c.d |
Television time (hours/day) | 1.45 ± 1.31 | 1.49 ± 1.31 | 1.55 ± 1.29 | 1.19 ± 1.25 | 0.57 |
Labour occupation (%) | 53.0 | 58.8 | 45.7 | 42.9 | 0.09 |
Livestock ownership (%) | 48 | 39.6 | 26.1 | 28.6 | 0.003b |
Dietary intake (g/1000 kcal unless otherwise specified) |
Current alcohol consumer (%) | 51.6 | 43.6 | 50 | 35.7 | 0.08 |
Total energy intake (kcal/day) | 2451 ± 829 | 2349 ± 649 | 2324 ± 626 | 2153 ± 519 | 0.04 |
Carbohydrates | 179.2 ± 14.8 | 181.0 ± 13.4 | 174.1 ± 18.2 | 178.7 ± 14.7 | 0.024 |
Protein | 25.8 ± 02.1 | 25.4 ± 01.7 | 25.0 ± 01.9 | 25.8 ± 01.6 | 0.06 |
Total fat | 19.7 ± 5.3 | 19.4 ± 5.2 | 21.3 ± 5.5 | 20.1 ± 5.0 | 0.16 |
Dietary fibre | 220.0 ± 51.6 | 219.6 ± 81.6 | 220.6 ± 108.0 | 217 ± 63.9 | 0.99 |
Dairy products | 79.2 ± 71.4 | 79.6 ± 65.0 | 95.3 ± 58.9 | 89.2 ± 69.3 | 0.38 |
Pulses and legumes | 27.5 ± 11.6 | 27.5 ± 11.9 | 28.3 ± 13.3 | 27.4 ± 09.3 | 0.97 |
Meat and poultry | 3.7 ± 4.5 | 2.6 ± 3.1 | 3.7 ± 4.6 | 2.5 ± 3.2 | 0.003a |
Fruits and vegetables | 77.0 ± 48.3 | 76.6 ± 50.7 | 74.9 ± 43.3 | 70.4 ± 33.1 | 0.86 |
Refined grains | 67.1 ± 32.3 | 76.6 ± 50.7 | 74.9 ± 43.3 | 70.4 ± 33.1 | 0.86 |
Several factors were associated with co-morbid anemia and overweight in age- and sex-adjusted logistic regression model (Table
5). High caste was associated with increased odds of both overweight and co-morbid anemia and overweight. Wealth index values were associated with increased odds of overweight and co-morbid anemia and overweight, indicating that wealthier individuals were at higher risk of these outcomes. Rurality index values were negatively associated with overweight and co-morbid anemia and overweight, indicating individuals from less rural households experienced a greater risk of having these conditions. Tobacco consumption (current use of
paan1 or cigarettes) was negatively associated with co-morbid anemia and overweight. Finally, livestock ownership and meat intake were both negatively associated with co-morbid anemia and overweight.
Table 5Factors associated with double burden categories in a multivariable logistic regression analysis in a sample of adults in rural Tamil Nadu, South India
Age (continuous) | 1.03 (1.02, 1.05)a | 1.01 (1.00, 1.03) | 1.01 (0.99, 1.03) |
Female sex (male as referent) | 3.0 (2.03, 4.46)a | 1.30 (0.82, 2.05) | 2.31 (1.39, 3.85)a |
High caste (Brahmin) | – | 3.95 (1.75, 8.93)a | 3.17 (1.34, 7.49)a |
Wealth index | – | 1.06 (1.01, 1.13)a | 1.05 (1.00, 1.12)b |
Rurality index | – | 0.69 (0.58, 0.81)a | 0.69 (0.56, 0.85)a |
Tobacco consumption | – | – | 0.55 (0.32, 0.96)b |
Livestock ownership | – | – | 0.51 (0.29, 0.89)b |
Meat and poultry intake (g/1000 kcal) | – | – | 0.75 (0.61, 0.94)b |
Several factors were associated with co-morbid anemia and diabetes in the age- and sex-adjusted logistic regression model (Table
6). High caste was positively associated with co-morbid anemia and diabetes. Greater rurality index value was associated with lower odds of diabetes and co-occurrence of anemia and diabetes. Meanwhile, family history of diabetes was associated with much greater odds of diabetes and co-morbid anemia and diabetes.
Table 6Factors associated with double burden categories in a multivariable logistic regression analysis in a sample of adults in rural Tamil Nadu, South India
Age (continuous) | 1.02 (1.01, 1.03) a | 1.02 (1.00, 1.04)d | 1.08 (1.05, 1.11)a |
Female Sex (male as referent) | 2.73 (1.97, 3.79) a | 1.43 (0.61, 2.11) | 1.04 (0.49, 2.20) |
Scheduled caste or tribe (Y/N) | – | 2.89 (1.21, 6.90)b | – |
Seasonal migrant (Y/N) | 0.54 (0.31, 0.94)b | – | – |
Livestock ownership (Y/N) | 0.68 (0.49, 0.94) b | – | – |
Rurality index | – | – | 0.75 (0.57, 0.98)b |
Family history of diabetes (Y/N) | – | 4.17 (1.80, 9.62)a | 4.86 (1.86, 12.70)a |
Physical Activity (h/day moderate activity) | – | 0.85 (0.76, 0.96)a | – |
Body Mass Index (standardized) | – | 1.87 (1.25, 2.81)a | 2.14 (1.45, 3.14)a |
Waist circumference (standardized) | – | 1.68 (1.09, 2.57)b | – |
Meat and poultry intake (g/1000 kcal) | 0.87 (0.78, 0.98)b | – | – |
Discussion
Indicators of over- and undernutrition were widespread, both at the population level and within individuals. Prevalence of most measures of over- and undernutrition in the study population were similar or higher than state-level rural averages and previous regional studies conducted in South India [
7,
8,
41‐
44]. Underweight was more common among men, which is unusual for an Indian sample population [
7,
44,
45]. Evidence suggests that anemia and underweight have been declining across India in the past decade, so timing of studies may account for differences in published data [
7].
Results indicate that rural regions in South India may mirror patterns seen in urban India over the past two decades, with the burden of overweight and associated morbidities surpassing that of undernutrition [
46]. The study population had similar or slightly higher prevalence of overweight and associated morbidities in comparison to previous studies in rural India and Tamil Nadu [
41,
42]. As discussed elsewhere [
47], this study recorded one of the highest regional burdens of diabetes in rural India at 10.8%, which is higher than state-level estimates (7.8% as measured by Anjana et al. 2011) [
8] and most previous regional estimates (see Misra et al. 2011 for review of prevalence studies in rural India) [
48], but was similar to a recent cross-sectional study conducted in clusters of villages in nearby Vellore, Tamil Nadu (11.2%) [
43]. Prevalence of overweight (34.3% in men and 38.6% in women) was much higher than state-level rural estimates in 2006 (22.5% in men and 25.1% in women according to the National Nutritional Monitoring Board) [
44], but similar to other recent regional studies in South India [
41,
49]. High blood pressure (31.1% in men and 28.8% in women) was more prevalent than state-level estimates (17.6% among men and 11.5% in women as measured by IIPS) [
7] and regional population studies [
43,
50]. Our results corroborate recent evidence suggesting that low-resource rural regions are experiencing high rates of obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and other indicators of over-nutrition.
As yet, few studies in India have reported on the emerging double burden of malnutrition, and even fewer have investigated individual-level co-occurrence of over- and undernutrition. Alarmingly, we found that 13.1% of men and 23.1% of women had co-occurring anemia and overweight, which was considerably higher than figures reported by Jones and colleagues in 2016 (1.3% in men and 9% in women) in an urbanizing rural region of South India [
21]. We also found that about half of all individuals with diabetes also had anemia. While no other studies have examined co-occurring anemia and diabetes in India, Jones and colleagues found prevalence of co-occurring anemia and metabolic syndrome (defined as three of five of abdominal obesity, high triglycerides, low HDL cholesterol, hypertension, or high blood glucose) was 2.8%, including 1.2% among men and 4.5% among women [
21].
To our knowledge, this is the first cross-sectional study to assess associations between individual-level double burden of malnutrition and a wide range of demographic, socio-economic, dietary, and lifestyle risk factors in a rural region of India using multivariable logistic regression models. Several factors were associated with double burden outcomes. Our results corroborate evidence from India and other LMICs including China and Burkina Faso that co-morbid anemia and overweight or diabetes affect a larger proportion of women than men [
19,
21,
51]. In addition, female sex was associated with higher odds of co-morbid anemia and overweight in multivariable models. This may be driven by Indian women being at higher independent risk of anemia, overweight, and diabetes compared to men [
21,
49,
52]. It should be noted that such findings may also reflect intra-household dynamics and gender inequities that disproportionately impact women’s food intake and nutrition. For example, some studies suggest that men eat first in many Indian households, and that female children may be neglected in favour of male children [
53‐
56]. Such inequities may exacerbate the double burden of malnutrition among women and explain the higher prevalence and co-occurrence of anemia, overweight, and diabetes compared to men.
Socio-economic status (SES) and caste in rural India are intricately linked, and several researchers concur that elevated SES and high caste are positively associated with higher risk of obesity and non-communicable diseases (NCDs) [
57,
58]. In age- and sex-adjusted multivariable models, higher wealth index values were associated with greater odds of overweight and co-morbid anemia and overweight. In addition, high caste (Brahmin caste) was associated with increased odds of co-morbid anemia and diabetes, while low caste (scheduled caste or tribe status) was associated with decreased odds of co-morbid anemia and overweight. These results indicate that individuals of higher SES and higher caste were more likely to suffer from the effects of simultaneous over- and undernutrition, perhaps due to dietary and lifestyle patterns associated with wealth and caste [
59]. While the effects of caste on health and disease are complex, some evidence suggests that high caste households tend to have higher standards of living, increased income, greater access to sedentary pastimes, and increased usage of vehicles, all of which may impact the risk of obesity and NCDs [
60,
61]. While one might expect that higher caste and SES might reduce risk of anemia and co-morbid anemia due to improved food access [
62], this does not appear to be true for this study population. Such findings correspond with previous studies that demonstrated a connection between wealth and a diet high in calories but low in micronutrients [
63,
64]. Additionally, our results align with research from Jones and colleagues, who also found that their asset-based wealth index was associated with an increased odds of co-occurring anemia with overweight or metabolic syndrome [
21].
The rise of NCDs in India is often attributed to urbanization. While our study region was primarily agricultural and was classified as rural by Census India definitions [
65], we employed a rurality index to assess the impacts of remoteness and population density on measures of over- and undernutrition. We found strong negative associations between rurality and risk of obesity, diabetes, co-morbid anemia and obesity, and co-morbid anemia and diabetes. These findings parallel previous research in India [
21] and sub-Saharan Africa [
20] and may reflect urbanization-induced characteristics in the food and physical environments that promote obesity, diabetes, and other cardio-metabolic diseases [
38,
66]. Such characteristics may include convenient access to shops to purchase snack foods and sweetened beverages, reduced physical activity due to proximity of amenities, and social networks and employment opportunities contributing to elevated SES [
61,
67,
68]. This is an important finding, as it likely reflects the considerable variability and health implications of socio-economic, lifestyle, and dietary patterns occurring within rural regions of South India. Further, these findings underscore the importance of more nuanced approach to examining the urban-rural continuum in India, perhaps by eliminating the rural/urban dichotomy of most censuses and population health studies in favour of validated rurality or urbanicity indices or categories [
69,
70].
Studies from the United States have suggested that a “westernized” diet consisting of energy-dense, but micronutrient-poor foods, may contribute to concurrent obesity and micronutrient deficiencies [
67]. India is undergoing a nutrition transition characterized by a decline in the per capita consumption of traditional whole grains (e.g. small millets, barley, and buckwheat) and a diversification of food consumption [
71]. In some ways, this shift mirrors prior changes in many high-income countries, including increased intake of refined sugars, saturated fats, and animal products [
4,
68]. India’s nutrition transition is driven by rising incomes, economic development, urbanization, increased access to processed foods, changing food preferences, and shifting agricultural patterns, all of which are influenced by government policy and market forces [
4,
59]. Of concern in rural regions is the increasing popularity of refined grains (e.g. polished white rice) which have been processed to eliminate the bran and germ, thus removing fibre, vitamins, and other compounds that may protect against micronutrient deficiencies, diabetes, and other NCDs [
72]. Polished white rice consumption has increased due, in part, to national food programs such as the Public Distribution System (PDS), the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS), and the Mid-Day Meal Scheme (MMS), all of which now fall under India’s National Food Security Act (NFSA) of 2013 and promote rice and wheat as staple sources of calories [
56,
73] While these food programs have notably contributed to reducing the burdens of food insecurity and acute malnutrition in India, they have been criticized for relying heavily on staple grain distribution, thereby contributing to diets high in refined carbohydrates, low in protein, and lacking in adequate nutritional quality to prevent micronutrient deficiencies [
73‐
75]. Indeed, some studies have suggested that by improving access and affordability of refined grains, the PDS and MMS may be exacerbating the burden of overweight and diabetes in rural India [
76‐
79]. However, it should be noted that the infrastructure of the PDS, ICDS, and MMS represents an important opportunity to simultaneously promote calorie adequacy and improved nutrition [
79,
80]. To address the double burden of over- and undernutrition among poor populations in rural India, it is necessary to leverage the reach of the NFSA and associated social welfare programs to promote the consumption of whole grains and nutrient-dense foods [
74]. In some regions, targeted pilot programs have distributed whole grains (e.g. small millets) through the PDS and have seen some preliminary success [
81,
82]. Such efforts should be applauded and expanded if the Government of India wishes to address the double burden of malnutrition and prevent costly future healthcare expenditures.
There is some evidence to suggest that micronutrient deficiencies may contribute to the development and exacerbation of NCDs, and conversely that NCDs may affect absorption of micronutrients, thus exacerbating micronutrient deficiency [
83]. For example, micronutrients such as Vitamin C and zinc have antioxidant effects, and oxidative stress has been linked to the development and prognosis of cardiovascular disease and diabetes [
84,
85]. Evidence also suggests that obesity and some NCDs further exacerbate oxidative stress, and may interact with dietary deficiencies to produce worse health outcomes [
86,
87]. Similarly, some studies indicates that inflammation caused by obesity and diabetes reduces iron absorption, which may contribute to iron-deficiency anemia in individuals with these conditions [
88,
89]. Such complex physiological pathways may partially explain why body mass index and waist-hip-ratio were positively associated with co-morbid anemia and diabetes in the study population. In addition, the coexistence of underweight, anemia, and diabetes appears consistent with malnutrition-related diabetes or fibrocalculous pancreatic diabetes (FCPD), for which malnutrition and micronutrient deficiencies may be etiological factors [
90]. It is possible that some individuals in the study sample were misdiagnosed with type 2 diabetes when they in fact suffered from FCPD; however, considering the low prevalence of FCPD in other regions of South India (e.g. 0.019% in urban Chennai and 0.13% in rural Kerala), misclassification in this population was likely nonexistent or negligible [
90‐
92]. Clearly, there are several potential links between nutrition intake, micronutrient deficiency and NCDs that need to be explored in further detail and may explain the high prevalence of co-morbidity in the present study.
The findings of this study are relevant to public health and clinical practice. High prevalence of co-morbid over- and undernutrition underscore the importance of public health programs, policies, and healthcare practitioners to promote education, availability, and affordability of healthy diets and lifestyle patterns that simultaneously improve dietary deficiencies and reduce burdens of NCDs. Establishing healthy food environments, simultaneous screening and health monitoring of malnutrition and cardio-metabolic health outcomes, and promoting evidence-based and culturally-sensitive behaviour change may be integral to public health approaches [
20]. Our study findings suggest that screening and interventions aiming to reduce the individual-level double burden of malnutrition in India should target women living in moderately rural and urbanizing regions with a family history of metabolic disorders. Our analyses indicate that livestock ownership and meat and poultry consumption were associated with reduced odds of co-morbid overweight and anemia, suggesting that dietary interventions, and in particular improved access to nutrient-dense foods, may be beneficial to prevent or reduce this double burden pairing. Meanwhile, healthcare professionals should consider the risk of iron deficiency and anemia in all patients with obesity or cardio-metabolic disorders before recommending dietary and lifestyle changes. Our findings provide further evidence cautioning against interventions to reduce obesity through caloric restriction, as this may exacerbate nutrient deficiencies if the patient’s diet is nutritionally poor [
93]. Due to the limited research on the double burden of malnutrition in India, there is a need for further observational and experimental data to determine the effectiveness of policy, public health interventions, and clinical practices in preventing and managing co-occurring over- and undernutrition.
This study had several limitations. Although we used systematic random sampling to ensure internal validity, the sample is likely not representative of the state or national rural population, and thus our findings cannot be generalized to other populations in India. Cross-sectional study designs have known limitations regarding causal interpretations of observed associations and potential confounding bias. In addition, although we mostly employed standardized and validated data collection tools, there were some notable exceptions. The asset-based wealth index was modified from the one used by the NFHS and was not validated against other measures of wealth. The rurality index was adapted from one developed for health research in the United States, but was not previously validated for use in India [
39]. Although the FFQ was validated for use in rural Tamil Nadu [
28], the limitations of FFQs are well-documented and include a susceptibility to social desirability bias and a tendency to overestimate food intakes [
28]. Finally, due to limited access to laboratories and transportation constraints, we measured CBG, which has a wider coefficient of variation than venous plasma BG [
8]. However, previous studies have shown good correlation between CBG and venous plasma estimations, and the WHO recommends CBG in low-resource settings [
31].