India’s Obesity Crisis — Why Preventive Healthcare Is The Urgent Need

{By Dr. Muffazal Lakdawala}

India is facing a silent but deadly health emergency: an obesity epidemic that is growing at an alarming pace. Once perceived as a problem confined to Western countries, obesity is now deeply entrenched in both urban metros and smaller towns across India. What’s even more alarming is its rising prevalence among children and young adults an indicator that we are nurturing a generation at high risk for chronic disease from an early age. 
Obesity is simply not about being overweight. It is a complex, chronic disease that acts as a precursor or co inhabitant which leads to other serious health conditions like type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, sleep apnea, cardiovascular disease, fatty liver, osteoarthritis, infertility, respiratory disorders, and even certain cancers. It is also a key contributor to declining mental health, with links to depression and anxiety particularly among adolescents.

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A Ticking Time Bomb For India

If left unchecked, obesity could become one of the greatest public health challenges India has ever faced. According to the World Obesity Federation’s 2023 report, more than 135 million Indians are currently living with obesity, and this number is projected to rise sharply by 2035 if no urgent interventions are implemented. Of particular concern is the near tripling of childhood obesity rates in India over the last decade, driven by sedentary lifestyles, poor dietary choices, and increasing urbanisation.

This epidemic is threatening to overwhelm our healthcare systems, reduce economic productivity, and burden families emotionally and financially. And yet, our approach remains dangerously reactive India’s healthcare system still prioritises curative care over preventive strategies. We treat diseases once they manifest, rather than investing in preventing them from occurring in the first place. This must change and fast.

The Promise Of Preventive Healthcare

Preventive healthcare is not just a concept; it should be a national prerogative unfortunately its is not.. We must pivot to a proactive healthcare model that focuses on awareness, early screening, and long-term lifestyle modification.

1. Build Healthy Habits In Children Early

In order to raise healthier generations, schools should incorporate nutritional literacy into the curriculum and heavily control canteens by banning highly processed, sugary foods, limiting sugar-filled beverages and packaged snacks, and requiring the availability of fresh fruits and healthy options. To encourage lifelong movement habits, physical education and sports should be required. Screen time should also be restricted, and students should be encouraged to walk or ride their bikes to school. Scheduled water breaks should guarantee regular hydration, and school health programs should include mental health assessments as a required component.

2. Empower Families And Communities

In order to encourage healthier behaviours from a young age, parents must be educated about portion control, culturally appropriate balanced meals, and the often-ignored problems of peer pressure and sugar addiction, which can have a serious negative influence on children's mental health. Regular family mealtimes can also have a significant impact because kids often imitate the eating and lifestyle choices of adults. Creating easily accessible fitness and wellness programs at the community level, like yoga classes, walking clubs, or interactive wellness seminars, can encourage families to maintain an active lifestyle and create healthy lifestyle habits.

3. Workplace Wellness Initiatives

Encourage companies to integrate annual health screenings, structured fitness breaks, and healthy cafeteria options.  It important to foster team-based activities like marathons, sports clubs, or wellness challenges to build a culture of health and camaraderie. Offer mental health support and stress management tools to employees, especially young professionals prone to sedentary lifestyles.

4. National Policy-Level Interventions

India needs to address the obesity epidemic at the policy level with decisive measures. This entails taxing sugar-sweetened beverages and highly processed foods, requiring clear nutritional labelling on the front of the package, and providing incentives for whole foods and locally grown fresh produce. Supporting national initiatives that encourage exercise and preventative health examinations is equally important, as is making sure that people with obesity receive comprehensive medical and mental health care.

5. Use Bariatric Surgery Judiciously

While bariatric surgery can be lifesaving for patients with morbid obesity, it is not a silver bullet. It must be offered within a comprehensive care framework that includes nutrition counselling, psychological support, and post-surgery lifestyle management. Surgery should complement and not replace, public health efforts focused on prevention.

Prevention Is An Investment In The Nation’s Future

Preventive healthcare isn’t just about reducing the number of patients in hospitals, it’s about saving lives, improving productivity, and strengthening the nation’s future. A healthy population is the foundation of a resilient, thriving economy. Every ₹1 spent on preventive healthcare can save up to ₹10 in treatment costs over time, according to global health economic studies.

If we fail to act now, the cost won’t just be measured in rupees it will be measured in lost potential, shortened lifespans, and a declining quality of life. The obesity epidemic is not a far-off threat; it’s here, and it’s accelerating. 
India must respond with urgency with policy changes and forward thinking. Malnutrition and obesity are now hand in hand and it’s a problem the government needs to focus on. The solutions are within reach. But the will to act must come now. 

The author, Dr. Muffazal Lakdawala, is the Founder of Digestive Health Institute (DHI), Director at Sir H.N. Reliance Foundation Hospital, Mumbai.

[Disclaimer: The information provided in the article, including treatment suggestions shared by doctors, is intended for general informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.]

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