Published Jan 31, 2026 | 9:07 AM ⚊ Updated Jan 31, 2026 | 9:07 AM
Representational image. Credit: iStock
Synopsis: New research from the Asian Institute of Gastroenterology shows younger Indians (≤50) with genetic predisposition to obesity face greater risk when combining unhealthy lifestyles with high-risk alleles. The study highlights that diet, exercise, and smoking choices strongly modulate genetic susceptibility, underscoring the need for early interventions, healthier behaviours, and public health strategies to curb rising obesity trends in India.
If you’re under 50 and genetically predisposed to obesity, your daily choices around diet, exercise, and smoking could have a dramatically larger impact on your weight than they would for older Indians, according to new research from the Asian Institute of Gastroenterology that reveals a striking generational divide in how lifestyle affects obesity risk.
The study, published in Scientific Reports, found that younger individuals with high genetic risk and unhealthy behaviours faced significantly greater obesity risk than older adults with similar genetic profiles—suggesting that early lifestyle interventions may yield far greater benefits for India’s younger population.
“The influence of lifestyle was more pronounced among younger individuals (≤50 years), particularly those with high genetic risk,” the researchers reported. “For instance, individuals aged ≤50 years with high polygenic risk score and unfavourable lifestyle had an odds ratio of 3.17 compared to the reference group, whereas participants with the same profile aged >60 years had a lower odds ratio of 2.48.”
The Hyderabad-based research, conducted in collaboration with Wellytics and AIG Hospitals, analysed 6,663 Indian-origin adults from the UK Biobank and 91 participants recruited in India. The findings come at a critical time, as rapid shifts in diet and physical activity patterns threaten to worsen obesity trends among India’s younger generations.
“Obesity continues to rise globally and poses a considerable challenge to public health,” the authors noted. “Rapidly evolving lifestyles characterised by reduced physical activity and increased intake of calorie-dense foods have accelerated this phenotype. Additionally, rapid cultural and socioeconomic shifts are reshaping traditional Indian diets and physical activity patterns, potentially increasing the prevalence of obesity and related metabolic disorders.”
The study revealed that the Wellytics-Asian Institute of Gastroenterology cohort, with a mean age in the mid-30s, displayed particularly dramatic differences based on lifestyle choices. Participants with high genetic risk and unfavourable lifestyle showed approximately a 4.7 kg/m² difference in body mass index compared to their counterparts with favourable lifestyles.
“This suggests that lifestyle choices may have a greater impact on individuals with obesity-linked alleles at younger ages,” the researchers explained, though they cautioned that the relatively small sample size of this cohort might have contributed to the large effect observed.
The research defined a health-promoting lifestyle as routine physical activity, non-smoking or minimal smoking behaviour, and adherence to a balanced diet. Those who maintained these habits showed substantially reduced obesity risk even when facing high genetic predisposition.
“This study investigates whether sustained adherence to a healthy lifestyle is associated with lower obesity risk among individuals of Indian ancestry who have a high polygenic risk score for body mass index,” the authors stated. “These findings suggest that maintaining a healthy lifestyle may help reduce obesity risk even among individuals with strong genetic predisposition.”
The age-related findings carry particular significance for Indians, who face metabolic complications at lower BMI thresholds than Western populations—a vulnerability that makes early intervention even more critical.
“The Indian population harbours distinct genetic backgrounds and is often susceptible to metabolic complications at lower BMI thresholds, possibly due to distinct genetic architecture and environmental exposures,” the study noted.
Researchers tested the interaction between genetic risk and lifestyle and found it to be statistically significant, supporting the notion that lifestyle factors may modulate genetic susceptibility. The pattern held across both cohorts: participants with high genetic risk but favourable lifestyles had substantially lower odds of obesity than those with similar genetic risk and unhealthy behaviours.
“Our findings show that lifestyle choices play a key role in obesity risk among Indian individuals with high genetic risk,” the authors concluded.
“Even with a strong genetic predisposition, obesity is not inevitable. We found that those with high genetic risk and an unhealthy lifestyle had highest odds of obesity, whereas those with healthier behaviours had lower odds.”
The researchers emphasised that their results support public health efforts to promote balanced diets, regular physical activity, and smoking avoidance, particularly targeting younger individuals with genetic risk. They suggested that early identification of high-risk individuals through genetic screening could enable more effective prevention strategies.
“Evidence like this could influence lifestyle changes that put a focus on early behavioural interventions—possibly during childhood or young adulthood—for those with a higher genetic predisposition,” the study noted.
Whilst acknowledging limitations including self-reported lifestyle data and a cross-sectional design, the researchers called for larger, longitudinal studies in diverse Indian populations to explore more detailed lifestyle factors and long-term trends, ultimately informing interventions that may help mitigate obesity risk in high-risk populations.
(Edited by Amit Vasudev)
