The impact of overweight–obesity on heart rate variability among Indian adults – A cross-sectional study

The study found that both overweight and obese young individuals exhibited altered characteristics of the autonomic nervous system, resulting in reduced parasympathetic activity and diminished heart rate variability. Increasing BMI was strongly associated with reduced cardiac parasympathetic and increased sympathetic activity in both overweight and obese individuals. Therefore, timely identification and early intervention in the initial overweight stage through weight loss is a dire necessity to prevent the progression to obesity and its cardiovascular complications.