A recent study published by The Lancet reveal that Obesity rates is increasing across the world.
- Obesity among children and adolescents worldwide increased four times from 1990 to 2022, while obesity rates among adults have more than doubled.
- In India, 12.5 million children in the age group 5-19 years were grossly overweight in 2022, compared to just 0.4 million in 1990. 44 million women and 26 million men above 20 years old were obese, an increase of over 20 times from 1990.
- Both abdominal obesity and generalised obesity are increasing among the Indian population.
This is a cause of concern since lot of Indians already face diseases such as heart disease, strokes, and diabetes, which are linked to Obesity.
The study also points to another concerning issue of severe under-nutrition in India. As per the study, India has the highest number of underweight girls globally and the second-highest for boys.
As per World Health Organization (WHO), Obesity is defined as excessive accumulation of fat that poses health risks. A body mass index (BMI) of over 25 is considered as overweight and BMI of over 30 is considered as obese.
This study is a cause for concern and highlights the need for effective intervention to deal with obesity in India.
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