New Delhi: The concern over obesity in India is growing. By 2050, an estimated 440 million people in India may suffer from obesity, making the country the second most affected nation globally after China. A recent study has warned that if the government does not take preventive measures, nearly 60% of adults and one-third of children in the country could become overweight or obese.
In 1990, there were 929 million obese individuals worldwide, which rose to 2.6 billion in 2021. By 2050, India alone could have 440 million obese individuals, placing it in second position globally after China, while the U.S., Brazil, and Nigeria would be in third, fourth, and fifth place, respectively.
The study suggests that if corrective actions are not taken, 60% of the global adult population and one-third of children could suffer from weight-related issues. Within the next 15 years, the global number of overweight adults is expected to increase to 3.8 billion, while obesity among children and adolescents may rise by 121%.
By 2050, obesity rates are projected to be particularly high in North Africa, the Middle East, Latin America, and the Caribbean, where one-third of the youth population is expected to be overweight. More than half of the world’s obese adults will be concentrated in just eight countries: China, India, the U.S., Brazil, Russia, Mexico, Indonesia, and Egypt.
The primary causes of rising obesity include poor diet and sedentary lifestyles. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also urged people to reduce their consumption of oil in their daily diet as part of efforts to tackle this growing health crisis.
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