Background

• Overweight and obesity are defined as abnormal or excessive fat accumulation that presents a risk to health. A body mass index (BMI) over 25 is considered overweight, and over 30 is obese.
• The National Family Health Survey round 5 (NFHS-5, 2019-21) suggests that nearly one in every four men or women is obese in India.
• The World Obesity Federation estimates that India’s annual increase in childhood obesity is one of the world’s highest. 
• A nationwide study by the Indian Council of Medical Research in The Lancet Diabetes and Endocrinology (2023) had estimated that amongst adults over 20 years of age in India, one in every third ( 35 crore) has abdominal obesity, one in every fourth person (25 crore) has generalised obesity and one in every fifth person (21 crore) has high levels of blood cholesterol.
• India’s Economic Survey 2024-25 takes note of obesity as an emerging health challenge, recommending higher taxation on Ultra Processed Foods (UPF).
• Even though the scale of the obesity problem is high, focus on this issue is not as high as the undernutrition problem.
• Government Schemes such as ‘Khelo India’, ‘Fit India Movement’ or ‘Eat Right India’ campaigns, are promoted but these schemes put the initiative on the individual. A systematic effort by the Government is needed at this moment.

Measures to Frame an effective Policy against Obesity

• Awareness Campaign: A societal dialogue, and a structured scientific communication and public awareness campaign to highlight that obesity is a disease which can lead to other diseases such as diabetes, hypertension and liver disorders should be made known to everyone. 
• Public Infrastructure for Physical Activities: There needs to be better urban planning and urban infrastructure development with place for bicycle lanes, free access to parks and other public spaces and open gymnasiums. 
• High in Fat, Sugar, or Salt (HFSS) and UPF items need to be taxed at a higher rate, with subsidies for healthier food items including fruits and vegetables and actions to ensure their easy and widespread availability. 
  • The food industry should be made to adopt ethical practices in food marketing. 
• ‘Weight, height and waist circumference’ measurement has to be an integral part of all health visits and preventive health check-ups. Discussions regarding optimal weight should be done in every engagement with health-care providers. 
• Regulation of anti-obesity medicines: There is a need for developing and widely disseminating clinical practice guidelines about the ideal candidates for anti-obesity medicines, which need to be used as per medical advice. 
• Awareness at Workplace: Every office and workplace needs to raise awareness about ‘unhealthy weight’ in the workforce and make weighing scales easily available. There must be regular awareness campaigns about obesity prevention. 
• Schools and colleges should be engaged in knowledge sharing on healthy eating habits and healthy diets. School canteens should serve healthy food. 
  • The learnings from countries such as Japan, where dietitians are a part of every school network, should be explored. 
• Interdepartmental Coordination: Obesity prevention requires multiple ministry engagements (health, finance, education, agriculture, urban planning and development) to work together.
  • India’s nutrition intervention programme needs to be reimagined as ‘Suposhan Abhiyan’ with a focus on not just feeding but also ‘mindful under-feeding’ and ‘rightful micronutrient supplementation’. 
• Continuous Research Process: The research community, medical and public health professionals need to generate additional evidence on ill effects of overweight and obesity. 
  • This evidence needs to be communicated in easily comprehensible messages for the general public. 
• Affordable Healthy Foods: In India, eating healthy is becoming more expensive than eating junk food. The food industry must facilitate healthy eating. 
  • Corporate social responsibility funds from this sector can be channelled to promote a health lifestyle and eating habits.

Conclusion

• Obesity is a public health challenge which should be addressed through holistic, multipronged and comprehensive interventions. 
• Tackling overweight and obesity is necessary for a healthy, economically prosperous and developed India.