Rising Obesity Burden in India

Rising Obesity Burden in India

For Prelims: World Health Organization (WHO), Body Mass Index (BMI), National Family Health Survey (NFHS)-5, Non-communicable Diseases (NCDs), Ultra-Processed Foods (UPF), Fit India Movement, CSR.
For Mains: Increasing obesity rates, causes, related concerns, and solutions.

Why in News?

The Prime Minister expressed concern over the growing obesity rates, particularly among children, and urged citizens to adopt healthier lifestyles.

What is Obesity?

• Definition: The World Health Organization (WHO) defines obesity as excessive fat accumulation that poses health risks, with a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 25 or higher categorized as overweight and 30 or above as obese.
• BMI: A simple method used to assess whether an individual has a healthy weight, calculated by dividing weight in kilograms by height in meters squared (kg/m²).

Obesity Statistics:

• India:
  • According to the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5) (2019-21), 24% of Indian women and 22.9% of Indian men are overweight or obese.
  • The percentage of overweight children under five years increased to 3.4% from 2.1% in NFHS-4 (2015-16).
  • Obesity and overweight rates vary significantly across states, genders, and urban-rural divides, ranging from 8% to 50%.
• Global:
  • Between 1990 and 2022, obesity among children and adolescents (5-19 years) rose from 2% to 8%, a fourfold increase.
  • Obesity in adults (18+) more than doubled from 7% to 16%.

Associated Health Risks:
Obesity significantly raises the risk of various non-communicable diseases (NCDs), including:

• Cardiovascular Diseases (CVDs): Indians suffer from heart attacks and hypertension at least 10 years earlier than people in other countries.
• Diabetes: India has the highest number of diabetes cases (101 million), with obesity contributing to Type 2 diabetes through insulin resistance.
• Cancer: Obesity is linked to cancer, with the number of cancer cases in India expected to rise from 14.6 lakh in 2022 to 15.7 lakh by 2025.
• Joint Disorders: Excess weight puts pressure on joints, increasing the risk of conditions like knee osteoarthritis and back pain.
• Psychosocial Impact: Stigma, bullying, and low self-esteem lead to depression, anxiety, and reduced school performance, particularly among children.
• Economic Impact: In 2019, obesity cost India USD 28.95 billion (Rs 1,800 per capita), equivalent to 1.02% of GDP. By 2030, the obesity-related economic burden could rise to Rs 4,700 per capita or 1.57% of GDP. The Economic Survey 2024-25 recognizes obesity as a significant health challenge and suggests higher taxes on ultra-processed foods (UPFs).

What are the Causes of Obesity?

• Unhealthy Diets: Increased consumption of high-fat, salt, and sugar (HFSS) foods and UPFs high in unhealthy fats.
• Low Physical Activity: Sedentary lifestyles, with office jobs and excessive screen time, contribute to a lack of physical activity, leaving nearly half of Indians insufficiently active.
• Poor Urban Infrastructure: A lack of safe cycling lanes, decreasing green spaces, and traffic congestion discourage outdoor exercise and active commuting.
• Air Pollution: Pollution causes inflammation, increases cardio-metabolic risks, and encourages fat accumulation, while discouraging outdoor activities.
• Socioeconomic Barriers: Public distribution systems mostly offer staple grains (rice and wheat), leading to imbalanced diets. High costs limit access to nutritious foods (fruits, vegetables, pulses) for low-income groups. Over 55% of Indians (78 crore people) cannot afford a healthy diet, and 40% lack essential nutrients.

What are Government Initiatives for Obesity Prevention?

• National Programme for Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases (NP-NCD)
• Ayush Holistic Wellness Centre (Specialized Ayurvedic Care, Ayurswasthya Yojana)
• Mission Poshan 2.0
• Fit India Movement
• Eat Right Mela

Way Forward:

• Revamping Nutrition Interventions: Reimagine nutrition efforts as a ‘Suposhan Abhiyan,’ focusing on reducing overconsumption of unhealthy foods and improving micronutrient intake. India could adopt practices like the Japanese 80% rule (hara hachi bu), which advocates stopping eating when nearly full.
• Public Awareness: Obesity should be viewed as a public health issue, not just an individual concern. Public campaigns must raise awareness of its risks and emphasize prevention, care, and management.
• Regulating Diets: Imposing higher taxes on HFSS and UPFs, while providing subsidies for healthier foods like milk and eggs, could make nutritious options more affordable. CSR funds should also promote healthy eating habits and active lifestyles.
• Obesity Screening: Health check-ups, particularly in primary health centers (PHCs), should include mandatory height, weight, and waist measurements, with doctors addressing obesity risks.
• School-Based Initiatives: Schools should incorporate healthy eating and the risks of processed foods into their curricula. Canteens should offer healthier food options and avoid HFSS items. Global models, such as Japan’s school dietitian program and ‘health-promoting schools,’ should be adopted.

Drishti Mains Question:
Discuss the rising challenge of obesity in India, its causes, and propose a multi-sectoral strategy to address it.

UPSC Civil Services Examination, Previous Year Question (PYQ):
Prelims
Q. With reference to the provisions made under the National Food Security Act, 2013, consider the following statements: (2018)

1. Only families in the 'below poverty line (BPL)' category are eligible to receive subsidized food grains.
2. The eldest woman in a household, aged 18 years or older, shall be the head of the household for the purpose of issuing a ration card.
3. Pregnant women and lactating mothers are entitled to a ‘take-home ration’ of 1600 calories per day during pregnancy and for six months thereafter.
   Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
   (a) 1 and 2 only
   (b) 2 only
   (c) 1 and 3 only
   (d) 3 only

Ans: (b)

Mains
Q. Appropriate local community-level healthcare interventions are a prerequisite to achieving ‘Health for All’ in India. Explain. (2018)

Tags : UPSC 2025 current affairs preparation, UPSC current affairs January 2025, UPSC 2025 daily current affairs, Best sources for UPSC current affairs 2025, UPSC 2025 current affairs for prelims, UPSC 2025 current affairs for mains, Important current affairs for UPSC 2025, UPSC current affairs strategy 2025, UPSC 2025 current affairs notes, UPSC current affairs PDF 2025, Current affairs for UPSC 2025 preparation, UPSC 2025 current affairs online classes, UPSC current affairs quiz 2025, How to study current affairs for UPSC 2025, UPSC 2025 current affairs magazines, Current affairs for UPSC 2025 prelims and mains, Current affairs updates for UPSC 2025, UPSC 2025 current affairs analysis, Current affairs for UPSC 2025 PDF download, UPSC 2025 current affairs important topics, UPSC reading comprehension tips, UPSC reading comprehension practice papers,  UPSC reading comprehension strategy, UPSC reading comprehension questions,  UPSC reading comprehension exercises,  How to improve reading comprehension for UPSC, UPSC reading comprehension question papers PDF,  Important reading comprehension topics for UPSC, UPSC reading comprehension passage solutions, UPSC reading comprehension best books, UPSC GS reading comprehension examples, UPSC Prelims reading comprehension preparation,