Prevalence of excess weight among Indians up nearly five-fold in 30 years

NEW DELHI: Prevalence of excess weight among people in India has gone up nearly five times in the past 30 years - from approximately 53 million in 1990 to 236 million in 2021, claims a new study published in The Lancet.

If action is not taken to curb this growing public health challenge, the study warns, the overweight and obesity prevalence in the country may go up to over 521 million (projected) - the second highest globally, by 2050. China, which was estimated to have approximately 464 million overweight or obese persons in 2021, is likely to have the highest number of persons with the lifestyle disorder at 696 million (projected) in the next 30 years, the study suggests.

The study is based on an analysis of 1,350 unique data sources, including all major multi-country and national survey data. For individuals older than 18 years, overweight has been defined as having a BMI of 25 kg/m² to less than 30 kg/m² and obesity as a BMI of 30 kg/m² or higher. For individuals younger than 18 years, the definitions were based on the International Obesity Task Force criteria.

Importantly, the authors note that more recent generations are gaining weight faster than previous ones and obesity is occurring earlier, increasing the risk of complications such as Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, cardiovascular diseases, and multiple cancers occurring at younger ages.

For example, in high-income countries, approximately 7% of men born in the 1960s were living with obesity at the age of 25, but this increased to around 16% for men born in the 1990s and is forecast to reach 25% for men born in 2015.

The authors have called for a five-year action plan (2025-30) to curb the rise in obesity globally and help form new goals and targets for the post-2030 Sustainable Development Goal-era. "Preventing obesity must be at the forefront of policies in low- and middle-income countries," said co-lead author Dr Jessica Kerr.

"Policy action in these regions must balance the challenges of over-nutrition with under-nutrition and stunting, with interventions ranging from support for nutritional diets and regulating ultra-processed foods to promoting maternal and child health programmes that encourage pregnant women to follow a healthy diet and breastfeed. This is no time for business as usual. Many countries only have a short window of opportunity to stop much greater numbers shifting from overweight to obesity," she said.

Kerr stressed on the need to transform diets within sustainable global food systems and to support comprehensive strategies that improve people's nutrition, physical activity and living environments, whether it is too much processed food or not enough parks.

Recently, PM Narendra Modi raised the issue of growing incidence of obesity in the country and suggests ways, including reduction of intake of cooking oil in all households, to curb the problem.

Stay informed with the latest India news, updates on public holidays, and bank holidays in March.