Rising Obesity Burden in India | 04 Mar 2025

Source: TH 

Why in News? 

The Prime Minister expressed concern over the rising obesity, especially among children, and urged people to adopt a healthier lifestyle. 

What is Obesity? 

• About: The World Health Organization (WHO) defines obesity as abnormal or excessive fat accumulation that poses health risks, with a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 25 or above classified as overweight and 30 or above as obese. 
  • BMI is a basic method to assess whether an adult has a healthy weight, calculated by dividing weight in kilograms by height in meters squared (kg/m²). 
• Obesity Statistics: 
  • India:  
    • NFHS-5: As per the National Family Health Survey (NFHS)-5 (2019-21), 24% of Indian women and 22.9% of Indian men are overweight or obese. 
      • As per NFHS-5 (2019-21), the percentage of overweight children under five increased to 3.4% from 2.1% in NFHS-4 (2015-16) at the all-India level.  
      • Overweight and obesity rates vary from 8% to 50% across states, genders, and rural-urban areas. 
    • The Lancet: The prevalence of abdominal obesity (assessed through waist circumference) in India is 40% in women and 12% in men. 
      • Among adults over 20, 1 in 3 (35 crore) has abdominal obesity, 1 in 4 (25 crore) has general obesity, and 1 in 5 (21 crore) has high cholesterol. 
  • Global: From 1990 to 2022, obesity in children and adolescents (5–19 years) grew from 2% to 8%, a fourfold increase.  
    • In adults (18+ years), it more than doubled from 7% to 16%. 
• Associated Health Risks: Obesity, the mother of all diseases, significantly increases the risk of various non-communicable diseases (NCDs). 
  • Cardiovascular Diseases (CVDs): Indians experience CVDs like heart attacks, and hypertension at least 10 years earlier than people in other countries. 
  • Diabetes: India has the highest number of diabetes cases (101 million), and obesity increases the risk of Type 2 diabetes by causing insulin resistance. 
  • Cancer: Obesity is linked to cancer, with India's cases expected to rise from 14.6 lakh in 2022 to 15.7 lakh by 2025. 
  • Joint Disorders: Excess weight strains joints, increasing the risk of degenerative diseases like knee osteoarthritis and back pain. 
  • Psychosocial Impact: Stigma and bullying cause low self-esteem, depression, anxiety, and impact school performance and quality of life in children. 
• Economic Implications: In 2019, obesity cost India USD 28.95 billion (Rs 1,800 per capita), or 1.02% of GDP, due to healthcare expenses and lost productivity. 
  • By 2030, India's obesity-related economic burden may rise to Rs 4,700 per capita or 1.57% of GDP. 
  • The Economic Survey 2024-25 recognizes obesity as a health challenge and suggests higher taxes on ultra-processed foods (UPF). 

What are the Causes of Obesity? 

• Unhealthy Diets: Increased consumption of High Fat, Salt, and Sugar (HFSS) foods, and UPF high in unhealthy fats. 
• Low Physical Activity: According to The Lancet, sedentary lifestyles from office jobs and screen time leave nearly half of Indians insufficiently active. 
• Poor Urban Infrastructure: Lack of safe cycling lanes, shrinking green spaces, and traffic congestion discourage active commuting and outdoor exercise. 
• Air Pollution: It causes inflammation, raises cardio-metabolic risks, promotes fat accumulation, and discourages outdoor activities. 
• Socioeconomic Barriers: Public distribution systems mainly provide staple grains (rice and wheat), leading to imbalanced diets while high costs limit nutritious food (fruits, vegetables, and pulses) for low-income groups. 
  • India has moved from ‘food or calorie deficit’ to becoming ‘food or calorie sufficient (with inequitable distribution), as 55% (78 crore) can't afford a healthy diet, and 40% lack adequate nutrients. 

Way Forward 

• Revamping Nutrition Intervention: Reimagine India’s nutrition efforts as ‘Suposhan Abhiyan,’ focusing on mindful underfeeding (reducing overconsumption of unhealthy food) and proper micronutrient supplementation. 
  • The Japanese follow the 80% rule (hara hachi bu) i.e., they stop eating when their stomach is nearly full. India can adopt such practices to address the obesity problem. 
• Public Awareness: Obesity should be recognized as a public health challenge not just a personal issue.  
  • Public campaigns must highlight its health risks and emphasize prevention, care, and management like other chronic diseases. 
• Regulating Diets: Higher taxes should be imposed on HFSS and UPFs, while subsidies for healthier food items like milk & eggs should enhance affordability. 
  • CSR funds should be allocated to promoting healthy eating habits and active lifestyles. 
• Obesity Screening: Mandatory height, weight, and waist measurements in health check-ups especially at primary health centers (PHCs), with doctors addressing obesity risks in every consultation. 
• School-Based Initiatives: Make healthy eating, balanced diets, and processed food risks part of the curriculum. Awareness about label reading for informed food choices. 
  • School canteens should offer healthy food and avoid HFSS items.  
  • Adopt global models like Japan’s school dietitian program and implement ‘health-promoting schools’ initiatives.