New Delhi: The 2024 Economic Survey raises alarms about the escalating obesity in the Indian population as a major public health crisis. It emphasizes the urgent need for preventive measures to promote a healthier lifestyle in India.
The survey identifies a “lethal mix” of factors undermining public health and productivity, posing a significant threat to India’s economic potential. This mix includes social media influence, increased screen time, sedentary lifestyles, and unhealthy dietary habits.
“The private sector significantly contributes to this toxic mix, which is shortsighted,” said Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman while presenting the survey ahead of the budget. She criticized the emerging food consumption patterns in India as being “environmentally unsustainable.”
Citing a report from the Indian Council for Medical Research, the survey points out that the rise in consumption of processed foods, combined with reduced physical activity and limited access to diverse foods, exacerbates micronutrient deficiencies and obesity.
The survey notes that 54% of India’s total disease burden is attributed to unhealthy diets. It expresses deep concern over the growing obesity rates and the increasing consumption of highly processed foods high in sugars and fats.
“Obesity is a serious concern among India’s adult population,” it warns. Preventive measures are necessary to ensure citizens adopt healthier lifestyles.
To leverage the benefits of India’s demographic dividend, the survey stresses the importance of improving health parameters through a balanced and diverse diet.
The survey reveals that the adult obesity rate in India has more than tripled, with the steepest increase in children observed globally, behind only Vietnam and Namibia, according to a World Obesity Federation report.
Urban areas face a higher incidence of obesity than rural areas. The National Family Health Survey (NFHS) data shows:
– Urban men: 29.8%
– Rural men: 19.3%
– Urban women: 24% (up from 20.6% in NFHS-4)
– Rural women: 20.6%Regional Disparities
Certain states exhibit particularly high obesity rates:
– Delhi: Women (41.3%), Men (38%)
– Tamil Nadu: Women (40.4%), Men (37%)
– Andhra Pradesh: Women (36.3%), Men (31.1%)
India’s unique “double burden”: Undernutrition and Obesity
While obesity levels have steadily increased among both adults and children over the past 32 years, the prevalence of undernutrition remains high in India. This dual challenge has placed India among the countries with a significant “double burden” of malnutrition, according to a recent study published in The Lancet, which examined global malnutrition trends over the last three decades.
The study, released on February 29, attributes this double burden to the lack of affordable and nutritious food. While insufficient access to food leads to undernutrition, the increased availability of processed foods high in fats, salt, and sugar contributes to rising obesity rates.
What is obesity?
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), obesity is defined as an abnormal or excessive accumulation of fat that poses health risks. Adults with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 kg/m² or more are considered obese. For children and adolescents aged 5 to 19, obesity is defined as a BMI two standard deviations above the mean.
Undernutrition includes several sub-forms, one of which is being underweight. Adults with a BMI below 18 kg/m² are considered underweight, while children and adolescents are categorized as underweight if their BMI is two standard deviations below the mean.
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