India, Nov. 12 -- justify;">In clinical practice, individuals with normal BMI and normal blood sugar show early insulin resistance, excess visceral fat, cholesterol or fatty liver. Normal weight does not equal healthy metabolism - a distinction critical for long-term health.

India faces a metabolic crisis beyond obesity. A 2025 analysis of ~18,900 adults from the ICMR-INDIAB survey reported 83% had at least one metabolic risk factor - diabetes, prediabetes, dyslipidaemia, obesity or hypertension - indicating vulnerability is not limited to the visibly overweight.

Many Indians develop metabolic abnormalities at modest body weights, partly due to abdominal fat accumulation and lower muscle mass. While useful, BMI is an incomplete measure....