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Childhood Obesity in India
India plans own growth metrics to curb child obesity
Context: India is confronting a growing obesity crisis, especially among children, prompting the government to develop its own growth metrics tailored to Indian physiology and lifestyle. This marks a shift from global standards like BMI toward more nuanced, culturally relevant health indicators.
How are obese people recognised?
- Obesity is assessed primarily through Body Mass Index (BMI)—for adults, overweight is BMI ≥ 25 kg/m² and obesity is BMI ≥ 30 kg/m². In children and adolescents, obesity is defined as BMI-for-age above the 95th percentile (based on WHO or national growth charts).
- Additional indicators include waist-to-hip ratio, waist circumference (for abdominal obesity), and clinical signs of metabolic syndrome like hypertension or insulin resistance.
- Currently, India relies on WHO charts designed for Western populations, but the ICMR-UNNATI project is developing India-specific growth and development benchmarks to better capture local obesity risks.
Why is obesity a huge challenge for India?
- Public Health Burden: Childhood obesity has surged: 0.4 million (1990) → 12.5 million (2022) in the 5–19 age group (The Lancet). Increases risk of diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, fatty liver, and cancers in adulthood.
- Dual Challenge of Malnutrition: India faces the double burden of undernutrition and obesity. NFHS-5 (2019–21): 35.5% children under 5 are stunted, while urban obesity is rising rapidly.
- Lifestyle and Nutrition Transitions: Urbanisation, junk food, low physical activity, screen addiction. Aggressive marketing of ultra-processed foods and sugary drinks.
- Socio-economic Implications: Higher healthcare costs, reduced workforce productivity. Childhood obesity contributes to non-communicable disease (NCD) epidemic, already accounting for 65% of India’s deaths.
- Inadequacy of Current Tools: WHO charts not fully applicable to Indian children (genetic, dietary, environmental differences). Leads to misdiagnosis, late detection, and ineffective interventions.
What measures have been taken to address the challenge?
- Policy & Guidelines: India’s policy response to rising obesity includes the National Obesity Guidelines (2025), which emphasize early screening, prevention, and treatment, and the ICMR Dietary Guidelines (2024), which recommend low-fat, low-sugar diets and healthier cooking methods to curb lifestyle-related health risks.
- Public Campaigns: Key initiatives addressing obesity include the Fit India Movement, which promotes daily exercise and fitness challenges; POSHAN Abhiyaan, which tackles both undernutrition and obesity through behaviour change; and Eat Right India, which encourages safe, healthy, and sustainable food habits.
- Child-Focused Interventions: The School Health Programme under Ayushman Bharat integrates nutrition education and physical activity into school curricula, while the Healthy Food Environment Guidelines regulate the availability of junk food in school canteens to promote healthier dietary practices among children.
- Medical & Research Support: Emerging use of GLP-1 and GIP receptor agonists for weight loss under medical supervision. Expansion of obesity intervention research, especially in low-income settings.
