Concern Over The Rising Obesity : Prime Minister
The Prime Minister expressed concern over the rising obesity, especially among children, and urged people to adopt a healthier lifestyle.
- 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.
- 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%.
- 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.
- 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).
