Global study reveals alarming rise in obesity rates among Indians
Obesity in India: A comprehensive global study conducted by the NCD Risk Factor Collaboration (NCD-RisC) in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) has brought to light concerning statistics regarding obesity in India. The research, published in The Lancet, highlights a substantial increase in obesity rates, particularly among Indian women.
Sharp Rise in Obesity Rates
In 2022, the study reveals that 82.5 million Indians were classified as obese. Disturbingly, 9.8 percent of Indian women (44 million) and 5.4 percent of Indian men (26 million) fell into the obese category. This represents a significant surge compared to 1990 when only 1.2 percent of women and 0.5 percent of men were classified as obese.
Obesity: a growing concern among Indian women
Global Perspective on Obesity
Globally, the study found that nearly 880 million adults were living with obesity in 2022, marking a substantial increase from the 195 million recorded in 1990. When combined with children, the total number of people affected by obesity worldwide surpassed 1 billion in 2022.
India's Obesity Ranking
Despite the concerning numbers, India's prevalence of obesity ranks 19th lowest for women and 21st lowest for men globally in 2022.
Call for Action
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus emphasized the importance of early prevention and management of obesity, calling for a collaborative effort involving governments, communities, and the private sector.
Concerns from Indian Experts
Dr. R. Hemalatha, director of the Indian Council of Medical-National Institute of Nutrition (ICMR-NIN), suggests that the findings might only scratch the surface, indicating a more significant challenge of overweight and abdominal obesity contributing to the rising burden of non-communicable diseases in India.
Shifting Trends in Underweight Rates
The study also sheds light on improvements in certain aspects of nutrition and healthcare accessibility in India. The prevalence of underweight in the country decreased significantly, from 41.7 percent in 1990 to 13.7 percent in 2022 for women and from 39.8 percent to 12.5 percent for men.
This comprehensive study offers valuable insights into the evolving health landscape in India and emphasizes the urgent need for coordinated efforts to address the growing obesity crisis.
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