Is India facing an obesity crisis?
2 months ago

Is India facing an obesity crisis?

India Today  

Over the years, obesity rates have seen an astounding upward trend in India. "While lifestyle shifts play a significant role, they are not the sole cause," said Dr Venugopal Pareek, Senior Consultant GI Laparoscopic, Bariatric Surgeon & Robotic Surgeon, CARE Hospitals, Hyderabad, highlighting that the pattern and factors leading to obesity in India is different from other parts of the world. While rapid urbanisation and economic growth have dramatically changed dietary patterns and physical activity levels in the last two decades, genetics and the environment play a huge role in India's obesity crisis. Doctors from the National Diabetes Obesity and Cholesterol Foundation, Fortis C-DOC Hospital, and the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, recently released new guidelines for Indians, adding several factors for diagnosing obesity besides BMI and adding two categories in obesity to provide better treatment. Stage 1 obesity involves personalised nutrition plans, regular physical activity of over 60 minutes daily and certain medications, prescribed by the doctor after reviewing family history.

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History of this topic

Obesity is a complex health concern: How to tackle it
3 weeks ago

Obesity is a complex health concern: How to tackle it

India Today  

The spike in obesity rates worldwide has made experts concerned about tackling it. Rates of overweight and obesity have already more than doubled over the past three decades, with more than 2.1 billion adults and 493 million young people aged 5-24 years affected as of 2021, The Lancet report said. This surge has led to a noticeable increase in related …

Obesity Day: Call for higher taxes on sweetened beverages, processed foods
3 weeks ago

Obesity Day: Call for higher taxes on sweetened beverages, processed foods

New Indian Express  

NEW DELHI: As obesity has become a silent epidemic in India, fiscal policies must be introduced to make healthy food options affordable and accessible while discouraging unhealthy choices through higher taxes on sugar-sweetened beverages and ultra-processed foods, according to a national white paper released on Tuesday on the occasion of World Obesity Day 2025. Despite the increasing prevalence of obesity, …

India’s obesity epidemic: Blame it on food high in salt and sugar, workplace stress and poor sleep, reveals Lancet study
Trending News
3 weeks, 1 day ago

India’s obesity epidemic: Blame it on food high in salt and sugar, workplace stress and poor sleep, reveals Lancet study

Live Mint  

In India, 21.8 crore men and 23.1 crore women, totalling up to 44.9 crore or nearly a third of the country’s projected population, will be overweight or obese by 2050, predicted a study published in Lancet. One of the major reasons that is driving the obesity epidemic in the country is the surge in consumption of processed foods high in …

Almost a third of the Indian population will be obese by 2050. Why is obesity on the rise?
3 weeks, 1 day ago

Almost a third of the Indian population will be obese by 2050. Why is obesity on the rise?

Firstpost  

According to a recent Lancet study, nearly 450 million Indians could be overweight or obese by 2050. By 2050, the number of overweight or obese individuals aged 15-24 is expected to increase significantly, with 2.27 crore young men and 1.69 crore young women projected to be affected. While obesity was relatively rare in India until the 1990s, with just 0.33 …

World Obesity Day 2025: More than 440 million people may be overweight by 2050 in India, says Lancet study
3 weeks, 1 day ago

World Obesity Day 2025: More than 440 million people may be overweight by 2050 in India, says Lancet study

India TV News  

World Obesity Day 2025: More than 440 million people may be overweight by 2050 in India, says Lancet study World Obesity Day is observed every year on March 4. A recent study published by The Lancet journal has found that India could have over 440 million obese and overweight people by 2050. A new study published by The Lancet journal …

India’s obesity crisis: Over 44 crore people expected to be overweight by 2050, second after China
3 weeks, 1 day ago

India’s obesity crisis: Over 44 crore people expected to be overweight by 2050, second after China

Live Mint  

India could have over 440 million obese and overweight people by 2050, the second highest in the world after China, while the US, Brazil and Nigeria will rank third, fourth and fifth, respectively. It is estimated that nearly 3.8 billion adults will be overweight or obese in 15 years, while a121 per cent increase in obesity among children and adolescents …

Women in South India, Delhi, Punjab have higher levels of obesity
3 weeks, 1 day ago

Women in South India, Delhi, Punjab have higher levels of obesity

The Hindu  

About a fourth of men and women in India were either ‘overweight’ or ‘obese’ in 2019-21, an increase of 4 percentage points from 2015-16, underscoring the rising health risk posed by obesity in the country. While the problem is prominent among women in most South Indian States, as well as in Delhi and Punjab, the rate of increase in obesity …

China, India Obesity Problems Driving Global Surge, Study Says
3 weeks, 1 day ago

China, India Obesity Problems Driving Global Surge, Study Says

Live Mint  

-- China, India and the US will have the world’s largest populations of adults living with overweight and obesity by 2050, according to new research that highlights the global public health crisis and the potential for colossal economic losses. Without drastic intervention, 3.80 billion adults over the age of 25 years will have overweight and obesity around the world by …

India may have over 440 million overweight people by 2050: Lancet study
Top News
3 weeks, 1 day ago

India may have over 440 million overweight people by 2050: Lancet study

New Indian Express  

NEW DELHI: By 2050, India could have over 440 million obese and overweight people, a global analysis published in The Lancet journal has estimated. However, by 2050, this number globally could rise to nearly 3.8 billion -- 1.8 billion men and 1.9 billion women -- "over half of the likely global adult population at that time", the authors said. The …

Nearly a third of India will be obese by 2050: New Lancet study
Trending News
3 weeks, 1 day ago

Nearly a third of India will be obese by 2050: New Lancet study

India Today  

Over the last few years, obesity rates have seen an upward trend. But now a new Lancet study has highlighted an obesity epidemic, predicting that 218 million men and 231 million women in India, nearly one-third of the country's population, will be obese by 2050. Among young men, the number of overweight or obese adolescents increased from 4 million in …

India’s burden of rising obesity, the hefty cost to pay
3 weeks, 1 day ago

India’s burden of rising obesity, the hefty cost to pay

The Hindu  

In the last two decades in India, a major epidemiological transition has happened that has not captured sufficient public attention — the challenge of overweight and obesity. The World Obesity Federation estimates that India’s annual increase in childhood obesity is one of the world’s steepest. The global obesity observatory estimates that the annual economic cost of obesity and being overweight …

Need for data to tackle rising obesity rate in kids
3 weeks, 2 days ago

Need for data to tackle rising obesity rate in kids

New Indian Express  

Childhood obesity is rising at an alarming rate across India, and experts warn that the country lacks comprehensive data to tackle the issue effectively. Doctors point out that tracking childhood obesity — through schools, healthcare centres, and community programmes — is crucial to designing preventive measures before it escalates into a full-blown public health emergency. According to studies conducted by …

Why is India staring at an obesity challenge? | Explained
3 weeks, 3 days ago

Why is India staring at an obesity challenge? | Explained

The Hindu  

The story so far: Earlier this week, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his ‘Mann Ki Baat’ radio programme highlighted the alarming increase in obesity in the country, particularly among children, and noted that obesity affected one in eight Indians. With older children the figures are higher: the World Obesity Atlas 2022 estimates that India will have a child obesity prevalence …

All about non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, affecting 3 in 10 people in India
3 weeks, 4 days ago

All about non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, affecting 3 in 10 people in India

India Today  

One of the major public health concerns in India is non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, a major metabolic disorder affecting millions in India alongside obesity, diabetes and heart diseases. Being a lifestyle-related ailment, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is a silent epidemic in India, with around 1 to 3 individuals out of 10 suffering from it, according to government data, and affects …

DC Edit | PM’s drive on obesity welcome
1 month ago

DC Edit | PM’s drive on obesity welcome

Deccan Chronicle  

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call for an anti-obesity drive seeks to address one of the challenges that the country faces — growing incidence of lifestyle diseases among Indians. According to an estimate, the annual edible oil consumption per person in India is 20 kg, which is over six times more than the 2.9 kg reported in 1950-60. The WHO’s ideal …

Why India needs to fix its obesity crisis
1 month ago

Why India needs to fix its obesity crisis

The Hindu  

On PM Modi’s call to fight obesity, the increasing use of AI in healthcare, debunking myths around vaping, an update on the avian influenza outbreak and more It’s often called the ‘mother of all diseases’ but perhaps not taken as seriously as it should be: obesity, now a crisis of epic proportions in India, needs tackling urgently and effectively. In …

Health Matters newsletter: why india needs to fix its obesity crisis
1 month ago

Health Matters newsletter: why india needs to fix its obesity crisis

The Hindu  

It’s often called the ‘mother of all diseases’ but perhaps not taken as seriously as it should be: obesity, now a crisis of epic proportions in India, needs tackling urgently and effectively. In his address, Mr. Modi also highlighted India’s role in Artificial Intelligence technology and if this is something you want to know more about, do check out our …

How has India revised obesity parameters?
2 months ago

How has India revised obesity parameters?

The Hindu  

The story so far: India has revised guidelines for obesity treatment and diagnosis after 15 years. The revised classification system introduces two stages in obesity — ‘innocuous obesity’, characterised by increased body fat without organ or metabolic dysfunction; the second stage is obesity with consequences, marked by the impact on physical functions and presence of obesity-related diseases. This revision acknowledged …

From the India Today archives (2006) | Obesity: Girth of a nation
2 months, 1 week ago

From the India Today archives (2006) | Obesity: Girth of a nation

India Today  

Do you have a problem bending over to slip on your shoes? "Fat around the waist has been linked to a greater risk of heart disease, diabetes, stroke, hypertension, breathing problems, disability, some cancers, and higher mortality rates," asserts Dr K.S. "There are clear and hard facts in urban areas that things are as bad as they could be," says …

The meat of the obesity problem
Trending News
2 months, 1 week ago

The meat of the obesity problem

Hindustan Times  

Obesity’s links with many non-communicable diseases and the consequent health burden make it a health concern of singular importance for both people and policy. Yet, for decades now, the world has used a rather flawed metric to diagnose it — Body Mass Index, an estimation of body fat content based on weight relative to height. While a BMI of 30 …

Experts urge overhaul of obesity measurements, introduce two new diagnostic categories of obesity
2 months, 1 week ago

Experts urge overhaul of obesity measurements, introduce two new diagnostic categories of obesity

The Hindu  

Seeking recalibration on how obesity is measured worldwide a global commission on this issue, in its recent report published in The Lancet Diabetes and Endocrinology, has said that Body Mass Index is not an adequate indicator of obesity, as distribution of body fat is also crucial to assess overall health and disease patterns. “This framework places special emphasis on abdominal …

India's obesity guidelines updated after 15 years: What's changed?
2 months, 1 week ago

India's obesity guidelines updated after 15 years: What's changed?

India Today  

For decades, doctors have used body mass index as a tool to measure obesity. Experts, such as doctors, surgeons, physiotherapists, and nutritionists from the National Diabetes Obesity and Cholesterol Foundation, Fortis C-DOC Hospital, and the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, have provided guidelines for obesity treatment and diagnosis after 15 years, similar to the new definition released by The …

Is India's rising spending on processed foods linked to diabetes, heart disease?
2 months, 3 weeks ago

Is India's rising spending on processed foods linked to diabetes, heart disease?

India Today  

Indians have been spending more on beverages, refreshments, and processed foods than fruits and vegetables every month, according to the latest Household Consumption Expenditure Survey. In rural India, 47% of monthly expenditure went towards food, with nearly 10% allocated to processed foods and beverages. Experts have warned that this increased spending on sugary beverages and processed foods is linked to …

At the soft core of a non communicable diseases epidemic, is obesity
2 months, 3 weeks ago

At the soft core of a non communicable diseases epidemic, is obesity

The Hindu  

At no point in the history of mankind has there been so much excess food on the table as there has been over the last few decades. The current incidence of obesity as per the World Health Organization across the globe is huge: one in eight persons in the world is obese, and one in three is overweight. In addition …

India's love for golu-molu kids is feeding an epidemic
3 months, 3 weeks ago

India's love for golu-molu kids is feeding an epidemic

India Today  

Till a year ago, 12-year-old Dinesh weighed 110 kg. Doctors say that obese children and adults are at a higher risk of developing chronic health conditions, such as high blood pressure, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, stroke and kidney issues. "In Indian culture, being thin has historically been linked to poverty, a classist stereotype that associates a lack of weight …

Doctor Explains | Diabetes risk growing in India, the good news is it's preventable — here's how
4 months, 1 week ago

Doctor Explains | Diabetes risk growing in India, the good news is it's preventable — here's how

Firstpost  

Even as India tops the world in diabetes with 26% of all cases, it does not have to this way. India currently has 26 per cent of the world’s diabetes patients at 212 million, according to the study by NCD Risk Factor Collaboration, an international collective of health scientists. Reduced physical activity alongside extensive screen time means that fewer young …

How obesity is fuelling India's growing diabetes epidemic
4 months, 1 week ago

How obesity is fuelling India's growing diabetes epidemic

India Today  

Obesity is a major driver of type 2 diabetes, increasing a person's risk by nearly six times compared to those at a healthy weight. According to Dr Rakesh Kumar Prasad, Consultant in Diabetology and Endocrinology at Fortis Hospital, Noida, while not everyone with obesity will develop diabetes, factors such as family history, diet, physical activity, stress levels, and gut health …

‘Lifestyle diseases increase in rural India’: NMC health survey
6 months ago

‘Lifestyle diseases increase in rural India’: NMC health survey

New Indian Express  

NEW DELHI: Hypertension and diabetes are some of the common lifestyle diseases seen in rural India according to a new survey conducted by the National Medical Commission. Additionally, 14.4 per cent of the 3,66,086 people screened for blood sugar levels were diagnosed with diabetes. The survey also found 15 per cent of 57,940 children stunted, 10.5 per cent wasted, and …

Kerala’s obesity worries on the rise
7 months, 1 week ago

Kerala’s obesity worries on the rise

New Indian Express  

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM : Perhaps, it’s the changing lifestyle. In Kerala, the prevalence of obesity is more common among women while it almost doubled in the case of men in five years, showed the ‘Women and Men in India 2023’ report released by the Union Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation. For adult females, the proportion rose from 6.4% to 9.8%, the …

Economic Survey 2023-24: Obesity crisis in India, preventive measures needed
8 months ago

Economic Survey 2023-24: Obesity crisis in India, preventive measures needed

The Hindu  

The Economic Survey of India 2023-24, tabled by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in both houses of Parliament on Monday, July 22, the first day of the Budget Session, has pointed out that improving the quality of health of India’s young population, is crucial. The ICMR had released 17 dietary guidelines, and had said, “a significant proportion of premature deaths …

Economic Survey 2023-24: Rising obesity concern, and preventive measures must be taken for healthier lifestyle
8 months ago

Economic Survey 2023-24: Rising obesity concern, and preventive measures must be taken for healthier lifestyle

New Indian Express  

NEW DELHI: Raising concerns over growing obesity and the increase in consumption of highly processed foods laden with sugars and fat, the Economic Survey said 54 per cent of the total disease burden in India is due to unhealthy diets. Obesity presents a "concerning situation" and preventive measures must be taken to enable citizens to have a healthier lifestyle, it …

Half of India's population not physically active: Study shows worrying trend
9 months ago

Half of India's population not physically active: Study shows worrying trend

India Today  

Around half of India's adult population does not engage in enough physical activity, according to new data by the World Health Organisation. The new data published in The Lancet Global Health reveals an alarming trend showing that the prevalence of insufficient physical activity among in India has skyrocketed from 22.3% in 2000 to 49.4% in 2022. As per the study, …

Data Munching | A global study on being underweight and obese is a mixed bag for Indians
1 year ago

Data Munching | A global study on being underweight and obese is a mixed bag for Indians

Hindustan Times  

A study published in the medical journal, Lancet, last week pointed out that more than a billion people across the world are now living in obesity, and that the prevalence of obesity in 2022 was four times that of 1990. Despite global population growth, 183 million women and 164 million men were affected by underweight in 2022, 45 million and …

World Obesity Day 2024: Where does India stand?
1 year ago

World Obesity Day 2024: Where does India stand?

Live Mint  

World Obesity Day 2024 will be celebrated on March 4. According to the World Health Organization, the rate of obesity among the world's children and adolescents in 2022 is four times higher than it was in 1990. It's time for policymakers, healthcare professionals, and the community to come together,” said Dr Pradeep Chowbey, Chairman - Max Institute of Laparoscopic, Endoscopic, …

1.25 crore children in India were overweight in 2022, according to Lancet study
1 year ago

1.25 crore children in India were overweight in 2022, according to Lancet study

New Indian Express  

NEW DELHI: About 12.5 million children in the age group of five and 19 in India were overweight in 2022, according to the latest report published in the Lancet journal. In total, 159 million children and adolescents and 879 million adults were living with obesity in 2022, the study said. The total number of children and adolescents who were affected …

ICMR-NIN scientists find alarming obesity levels in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh
1 year, 4 months ago

ICMR-NIN scientists find alarming obesity levels in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh

The Hindu  

Scientists at the ICMR-National Institute of Nutrition have found out that there is an alarming incidence of obesity in both urban and rural areas of the Telugu States including in Hyderabad. A recent cross-sectional study conducted in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh has delved into various dimensions of nutritional status and factors associated with malnutrition across different age groups in these …

What’s behind the rising rates of childhood obesity in India? | In Focus podcast
1 year, 7 months ago

What’s behind the rising rates of childhood obesity in India? | In Focus podcast

The Hindu  

India is staring at a strange problem: malnutrition among children has not gone away, but at the same time, there is an increasing burden of childhood obesity. The latest National Family Health Survey reported that 33 States and Union Territories in the country registered a spike in the number of overweight children. Changing lifestyles including diets, easy access to unhealthy …

Explained: The alarming rise of fatty liver disease among Indians
1 year, 7 months ago

Explained: The alarming rise of fatty liver disease among Indians

Firstpost  

Around 38 per cent of Indians are found to have fatty liver or non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. A recent AIIMS study revealed concerning findings about the prevalence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in India. Westernised lifestyle contributes to fatty liver A recent AIIMS study, which analysed published reports on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in India, states that over one-third of …

Nutrition is a luxury in India, over 100 crore people can't afford healthy food
1 year, 8 months ago

Nutrition is a luxury in India, over 100 crore people can't afford healthy food

India Today  

Indian households are stuck in a vicious cycle of malnutrition and poverty. While 42.1 per cent of the global population cannot afford healthy food, that number is 74.1 per cent for the Indian population, according to a joint report by FAO, IFAD, UNICEF, WFP and WHO. Compared to 9.2 per cent of the global population and only 2.5 per cent …

Fatty liver disease major health concern in India, say doctors
1 year, 8 months ago

Fatty liver disease major health concern in India, say doctors

Deccan Chronicle  

HYDERABAD: Doctors from across the country and the globe, at the first AIG liver conclave, expressed concern over increasing instances of fatty liver diseases, citing it as the third highest cause of deaths. Addressing the concluding session, Dr D. Nageshwar Reddy, Chairman, AIG Hospitals, said, “In India, the incidence of liver diseases is growing rapidly, and we are dealing with …

From the India Today archives (2012) | Fatty liver disease: India's battle of the bulge
1 year, 9 months ago

From the India Today archives (2012) | Fatty liver disease: India's battle of the bulge

India Today  

It was a day like any other in March this year. Fatty liver disease, in the absence of alcohol intake, is rapidly emerging as a health crisis in urban India. 70-90% people with obesity and diabetes suffer from fatty liver disease. "Fatty liver damage is no longer limited to people who drink excessively," says Dr Shiv Sarin, director of the …

Health Matters: India’s diabetes challenge
1 year, 9 months ago

Health Matters: India’s diabetes challenge

The Hindu  

There was no escaping the wide-ranging discussions on the state of the nation’s metabolic health these last couple of weeks. After the ICMR-Indiab final report last week established without a doubt, burgeoning numbers for diabetes, hypertension, obesity and dyslipidemia, painted a clear picture of the steep curve of rising non-communicable diseases in India. We don’t have to look too far …

Explained | How can India tackle its diabetes burden?
1 year, 9 months ago

Explained | How can India tackle its diabetes burden?

The Hindu  

The story so far: There was great interest in the results of the largest, long-term study on metabolic factors in the Indian subcontinent as part of the ICMR-InDiab study published in The Lancet last week. “Prevention is key, and here is the window of opportunity,” says V. Mohan, Madras Diabetes Research Foundation, which conducted the study funded by the Indian …

Data | High burden of diabetes and BP in Kerala and West Bengal
1 year, 9 months ago

Data | High burden of diabetes and BP in Kerala and West Bengal

The Hindu  

The results of an Indian Council of Medical Research–India Diabetes study published recently in The Lancet show concerning levels of diabetes, hypertension, abdominal obesity and hypertriglyceridemia in India. In these States, there was a relatively high prevalence of diabetes, hypertension, abdominal obesity and hypertriglyceridemia. Click to remove AMP mode Map 2 | The map shows the prevalence of hypertension In …

Explained | Are non-communicable diseases increasing in India?
1 year, 9 months ago

Explained | Are non-communicable diseases increasing in India?

The Hindu  

The story so far: The new national estimates for diabetes and other non-communicable diseases shows that 31 million more Indians became diabetic in four years. First, diabetes and other metabolic non-communicable diseases, such as hypertension, obesity and dyslipidemia are much more common than estimated previously in India and second, while currently urban regions had higher rates of all metabolic NCDs …

Why does India have such high diabetes numbers? | In Focus podcast
1 year, 9 months ago

Why does India have such high diabetes numbers? | In Focus podcast

The Hindu  

An India-wide study on the prevalence of diabetes and pre-diabetes, results of which were released recently, threw up some startling results: 10.13 crore people in our country of 140 crore could be diabetic, and another 13.6 crore are estimated to be at the pre-diabetic stage. The study was conducted by the Madras Diabetes Research Foundation in collaboration with the Indian …

India has much higher burden of non-communicable diseases: ICMR study
1 year, 9 months ago

India has much higher burden of non-communicable diseases: ICMR study

Live Mint  

New Delhi: India has a much higher burden of diabetes and other non-communicable diseases such as hypertension, obesity and dyslipidemia, according to a first-of-its-kind comprehensive nationwide study conducted by the Indian Council of Medical Research and Madras Diabetes Research Foundation. The study revealed the national prevalence of diabetes is 11.4%, prediabetes 15.3%, hypertension 35.5%, generalized obesity 28.6%, abdominal obesity 39.5% …

Over 11 per cent Indians Diabetic, 36 per cent have Hypertension: Lancet Survey
1 year, 9 months ago

Over 11 per cent Indians Diabetic, 36 per cent have Hypertension: Lancet Survey

Deccan Chronicle  

New Delhi: The prevalence of diabetes in India is 11.4 per cent, while 35.5 per cent and 15.3 per cent of people suffer from hypertension and prediabetes respectively, according to the findings of a nationwide survey published in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology journal. The study, conducted by the Madras Diabetes Research Foundation in collaboration with the Indian Council of …

India has 101 million diabetics, most populous UP has least prevalence, says Lancet study
1 year, 9 months ago

India has 101 million diabetics, most populous UP has least prevalence, says Lancet study

Hindustan Times  

India is a home to 101 million people with diabetes while 136 million in the country are struggling with prediabetes, says a new study published in Lancet. The largest epidemiological study on diabetes and chronic noncommunicable diseases in India was funded by the Indian Council of Medical Research and Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. “It is quite evident from …

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