Why Do South Asians Develop Diabetes at Lower Body Weight?

Curry, Carbs & Chronic Disease — Rethinking the South Asian Diet

At Low Carb Down Under Brisbane 2025, I presented a talk titled:

“Curry, Carbs & Chronic Disease – Rethinking the South Asian Diet.”

Within just two weeks of its release, the presentation received over 80,000 views.

That level of engagement tells us something important.

People are asking a question that has not been addressed clearly enough:

Why do South Asians develop diabetes at lower body weight?

This is not a niche concern. It is a global metabolic issue affecting nearly a quarter of the world’s population.

South Asians Represent 25% of the World

South Asians make up approximately 25% of the global population — nearly two billion people.

More than 40 million live in the diaspora.

The South Asian diaspora refers to people of Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Sri Lankan, Nepali and related heritage who live outside the Indian subcontinent — in countries like Australia, the UK, the United States, Canada, the Middle East, Africa and beyond.

Wherever they live, one pattern remains consistent:

South Asians develop:

• Type 2 diabetes earlier

• Heart disease earlier

• Fatty liver more commonly

• Insulin resistance at lower BMI

This reflects a distinct South Asian metabolic vulnerability.

The Hidden Risk: Normal Weight, High Risk

Many South Asians:

• Are not visibly overweight

• Have “normal” BMI

• Eat traditional home-cooked food

• Do not rely heavily on fast food

Yet they still develop:

• Prediabetes in their 30s and 40s

• Cardiovascular disease prematurely

• Central abdominal fat despite appearing “slim”

This creates false reassurance.

Standard BMI thresholds were not designed with ethnic differences in mind.

For South Asians, metabolic risk begins at lower weight levels.

Why Does This Happen?

The answer lies in physiology, not willpower.

Research shows that South Asians tend to have:

• Higher insulin resistance

• Greater visceral (abdominal) fat storage

• Lower baseline muscle mass

• Greater fat deposition in liver and muscle

• High refined carbohydrate load in modern diets

When traditional high-carbohydrate meals combine with sedentary lifestyles, the result is accelerated metabolic disease.

This is not about blame.

It is about biology — and awareness.

Curry Is Not the Problem

In my Low Carb Down Under Brisbane 2025 presentation, I emphasised this clearly:

Curry is not the problem.
Spices are not the problem.
Traditional cooking is not the problem.

South Asian spices — turmeric, cumin, coriander, ginger, garlic, cinnamon — are anti-inflammatory and metabolically supportive.

The issue is not culture.

The issue is:

• Carbohydrate dominance in modern portion sizes

• Protein deficiency

• Late-night eating

• Chronic stress

• Poor sleep

• Loss of muscle mass

We do not need to Westernise the South Asian diet.

We need to rethink balance.

The Empowering Message

Metabolic disease is not inevitable.

Through lifestyle medicine for South Asians, we can dramatically improve metabolic outcomes using simple, culturally adaptable strategies:

• Increasing protein intake

• Reducing excessive refined carbohydrates

• Building muscle through strength training

• Prioritising sleep

• Managing stress

• Moving daily

These are not extreme measures.

They are sustainable shifts.

They do not require abandoning identity or food traditions.

They require awareness and proportion changes.

Why This Conversation Matters Now

The rapid uptake — 80,000 views in two weeks — reflects a growing awareness.

South Asians around the world are looking for:

• Ethnic-specific nutrition guidance

• Clarity around their unique risk

• Evidence-based, culturally respectful advice

• Solutions beyond “eat less and move more”

If 25% of the world carries disproportionate metabolic risk, this is not simply a community issue.

It is a global public health priority.

A New Narrative for South Asian Health

The question is no longer just:

“Why do South Asians develop diabetes at lower body weight?”

The more important question is:

“What can we do about it?”

With early screening, awareness of South Asian metabolic vulnerability, and simple lifestyle behaviours, we can:

• Reverse prediabetes

• Improve insulin resistance

• Reduce cardiovascular risk

• Improve energy and quality of life

• Protect the next generation

This is not about restriction.

It is about empowerment.

And this conversation has only just begun.

—
Dr Nelum
Low Carb Down Under Brisbane 2025
Curry, Carbs & Chronic Disease

Resources

Learn more about why South Asian’s are at higher risk of metabolic disease HERE

Get your free printable Healthy Eating Habits check list and Healthy Lifestyle Habits checklist

Get your free printable Key Health Measurements check list 

Read Dr Nelum’s Journey to Better Health HERE

Enroll in the South Asian Solutions: Healthy Habits for a Healthy Life online course – a culturally tailored, self-guided program designed to help you prevent and manage metabolic health issues while enjoying the foods you love. 

Speaking Engagements