India is confronting an escalating health crisis as a recent study published in The Lancet reveals that 70% of the country’s urban population is either overweight or obese. This alarming trend places India among the top nations grappling with obesity, ranking third globally after the United States and China in the number of obese individuals.
The findings, part of a report released by the NCD Risk Factor Collaboration, indicate that nearly eight crore people in India are categorized as obese. Particularly concerning is that one crore of these individuals belong to the 5 to 19-year age group, suggesting that childhood and adolescent obesity is becoming a widespread issue.
Highlighting the growing threat, Dr. Amit Garg, a senior bariatric and metabolic surgeon at a hospital in Mohali, told The Times of India, “India ranks third, just behind the US and China, in the list of top 10 countries with the highest number of obese individuals.”
The report notes that 30 million Indian adults are either overweight or obese. Among the diabetic population in India—estimated at around 62 million—there is a high incidence of obesity-related complications such as excess body fat, abdominal adiposity, and fat accumulation in ectopic areas of the body. These complications are major contributing factors to chronic diseases and organ dysfunction.
Dr. Arunanshu Beheram, another senior surgeon, observed a corresponding rise in bariatric or weight-loss surgeries due to the increasing prevalence of obesity in the country. According to him, more individuals are turning to surgical interventions as a means of tackling extreme weight gain.
“Obesity is just one facet of malnutrition, with underweight or thinness constituting the other end of the spectrum,” the report elaborates. It emphasizes that both extremes—being underweight and being obese—pose significant risks to vital organs such as the heart and liver. These conditions increase the likelihood of various illnesses, including cardiovascular and metabolic diseases.
The report also offers insights into the changing trends of malnutrition in India over time. Between 1990 and 2022, the percentage of underweight women in India declined by about 30%. However, the number of obese women saw a sharp rise during the same period, reaching 4.4 crore. Similarly, the number of obese men increased to 2.6 crore, reflecting a 5% growth. The data reveals a notable transition from undernutrition to overnutrition within India’s demographic landscape.
Alarmingly, the obesity trend is not confined to adults. The 5-19 age group is increasingly affected, with 0.7 crore boys and 0.5 crore girls now classified as obese. This change marks a significant shift in India’s public health profile, indicating that unhealthy weight gain is becoming a problem early in life.
The global context adds to the concern. The Lancet study shows that in 2022, the worldwide rate of obesity among children and adolescents was four times higher than in 1990. This exponential rise points to a global epidemic that requires urgent attention and collaborative efforts.
In India, the increase in obesity is mirrored by the surge in medical procedures to combat it. In 2019 alone, about 20,000 weight-loss surgeries were performed across the country. This is a staggering increase compared to just 800 surgeries conducted a decade earlier, reflecting both rising demand and wider acceptance of surgical solutions to weight-related issues.
Adding to the accessibility of such procedures, the Indian government now funds weight-loss surgeries for its three million government employees. This policy move is intended to make such surgeries more accessible to a broader section of the population, potentially reducing long-term healthcare costs by preventing obesity-related diseases.
The Lancet report underscores the severity of India’s obesity problem by reiterating that nearly 80 million Indians, including 10 million individuals aged between 5 and 19 years, are obese. The figures also highlight how childhood obesity is rapidly becoming a dominant feature of India’s public health landscape.
Three in ten school-going children in India are now obese, according to the report. This statistic, experts say, signals a worrying surge in weight-related issues among youth, particularly in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, which saw extended lockdowns, reduced physical activity, and unhealthy eating patterns.
Experts unanimously agree that reversing this trend requires immediate and concerted lifestyle changes. They advocate for better dietary habits, increased physical activity, and community-wide awareness programs to instill healthy routines early in life. Without such interventions, India could face a future overwhelmed by preventable chronic diseases.
A recent World Health Organization (WHO) study further highlights the gravity of the situation on a global scale. According to the WHO, more than one billion people worldwide are now classified as obese, surpassing the number of individuals who are underweight. This shift underscores a dual burden of malnutrition: while undernutrition continues to plague low-income populations, overnutrition has emerged as a leading public health threat globally.
This rise in obesity is accompanied by a spike in associated conditions such as early-onset diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and kidney disorders. “This rapid increase in obesity rates poses a dual burden with malnutrition and raises concerns about the early onset of diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, and kidney disease,” the report states.
Another challenge in addressing obesity is the limited availability and high cost of obesity-related medications. These drugs, often essential for people who cannot undergo surgery or for whom lifestyle changes are insufficient, remain out of reach for a large portion of the population due to financial constraints.
The mounting obesity crisis demands a multi-pronged response. Policy initiatives, public health campaigns, and grassroots efforts must work in tandem to create an environment that supports healthier choices. Measures like subsidizing nutritious foods, creating public spaces for exercise, and introducing mandatory physical education in schools can contribute significantly to curbing the trend.
In conclusion, the data from the Lancet and WHO reports present a stark picture of a nation—and a world—grappling with a growing epidemic of obesity. With India’s urban population particularly affected, and children increasingly at risk, experts warn that time is running out. Without swift and strategic action, the consequences could be devastating for future generations, both in terms of health and economic burden.