Weighed down by obesity epidemic

Obesity has assumed epidemic proportions in India and emerged as a major health threat. India has the third highest percentage of obese persons in the world and, according to data from the National Family Health Survey-5, there is prevalence of obesity among 24 per cent of women and 23 per cent of men. An analysis in the journal The Lancet says India will have 450 million obese persons, the largest obese population in the world, by 2050 – up from the current 180 million. The crisis has exploded in the last two decades. About 73 lakh boys and 52 lakh girls were found to be obese in 2022 compared to 2 lakh in 1990. The rising numbers will pose serious challenges to public health. India is already the diabetes capital of the world, accounting for over 23 per cent of the global number of patients. Obesity, diabetes, and other lifestyle ailments can make a large segment of the population unhealthy. It is only recently that obesity received the attention it deserved as a health challenge.

Consumption of junk food, changes in patterns and timings of work, lack of physical activity, and high levels of screen time are some of the reasons that contribute to obesity. As people walk less and travel more in vehicles, other lifestyle changes continue to make people vulnerable to obesity. They also lead to greater incidence of cardiovascular diseases, dementia, and cancer; these conditions also affect mental health and increase medical spending, eventually taking a toll on the economy. It is estimated that obesity-related health issues will make a 1.8 per cent dent in the GDP by 2035.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently drew attention to the problem and nominated 10 prominent personalities from different fields to spread awareness about the threat posed by obesity. Consumption of oil is a major factor. The Prime Minister has called for a 10 per cent reduction in cooking oil consumption. The annual edible oil consumption in India is 20 kg per person, while the WHO recommended limit is 12 kg. Obesity should be dealt with as a major public health issue and all its contributing factors should be addressed. There should be initiatives focussed on children and adolescents, and schools should have an important role in them. It has been observed that childhood undernutrition sometimes leads to obesity in later life. National action plans that target the entire gamut of the obesity challenge need to be drawn up and implemented.