India had the highest number of overweight and obese individuals in the 15-24 age group in 2021, with 1.68 crore males and 1.3 crore females, surpassing China, a comprehensive global analysis on obesity by The Lancet reveals.
The analysis found that the obesity epidemic is set to escalate, projecting that by 2050, 21.8 crore men and 23.1 crore women in India will be overweight or obese. Totalling 44.9 crore people, it predicts that nearly one-third of the country’s estimated population will be obese.
The report ‘The Lancet’s Global Burden of Disease Study BMI Collaborators’ analyses that overall, 18 crore Indians were overweight or obese in 2021, making India the second-largest globally after China, where the figure stood at 40.2 crore. It says that by 2050, this number in India will increase by 150 per cent, reaching 45 crore.
Globally, a substantial (121 per cent) rise in obesity among young people is projected, with the total number of children and adolescents with obesity predicted to reach 36 crore by 2050 (an additional 18.6 crore from 2021).
The study also highlights that India ranked second in the number of overweight and obese children and adolescents aged 5-14, with 1.3 crore males and 1.24 crore females.
“The unprecedented global epidemic of overweight and obesity is a profound tragedy and a monumental societal failure," said lead author Professor Emmanuela Gakidou from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME), University of Washington, USA.
“Governments and the public health community can use our country-specific estimates on the stage, timing, and speed of current and forecasted transitions in weight to identify priority populations experiencing the greatest burdens of obesity who require immediate intervention and treatment, and those that remain predominantly overweight and should be primarily targeted with prevention strategies."
The study used body mass index (BMI) for adults, which is widely used to track current global trends. For individuals older than 18, overweight was defined as having a BMI of 25 to less than 30, and obesity was defined as a BMI of 30 or higher. For individuals younger than 18 years, definitions were based on International Obesity Task Force criteria.
Among those aged 25 and above, overweight and obese women in India (9.84 crore) outnumbered men (8.5 crore).
The substantial increases in obesity forecast between 2022 and 2030 underscore the urgent need for action.
The study points out that the increasing prevalence of obesity in low and middle-income countries — combined with persistent childhood malnutrition and pervasive infectious diseases — can severely impact healthcare systems with an added burden of disease. The analysis says that undernutrition during childhood also leads to the accumulation of energy in fat tissues, leading to obesity in adulthood. All these processes increase the risk of early onset of multiple lifestyle disorders such as Type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and certain kinds of cancers.
The report is in sync with the Union government’s concern over the increasing incidence of obesity in India. Last month, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his radio show ‘Mann ki Baa,’ highlighted the urgent need to combat rising obesity rates and nominated prominent individuals to champion the cause of reducing edible oil consumption.
This call for collective action highlights the importance of tackling obesity at both individual and community levels, reinforcing the need for a fitter and healthier India.
The government of India has launched several initiatives, including the Fit India Movement, POSHAN Abhiyaan, Eat Right India, and Khelo India, to promote healthier lifestyles, better nutrition, and physical activity. “These programmes aim to encourage long-term behavioural change, ensuring a healthier future for all," according to a note by the Press Information Bureau.
The Centre’s strategy involves a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach to tackle obesity through policy reforms, community engagement, and regulatory measures. “Strengthening public health systems, promoting sustainable food habits, and increasing awareness are key to reversing this trend and safeguarding future generations from obesity-related health risks," the note said.
As per the National Family Health Survey (NFHS)-5 (2019-21), overall, 24 per cent of Indian women and 23 per cent of Indian men are overweight or obese. Indian survey, NFHS-5 (2019-2021), highlights that in the category of ages 15-49 years, 6.4 per cent of women and 4.0 per cent of men are obese. There has also been an increase in the percentage of children under five years who are overweight, from 2.1 per cent in NFHS-4 (2015-16) to 3.4 per cent in NFHS-5 (2019-21) at all-India levels.
