In an astonishing revelation, a global analysis published in The Lancet journal has uncovered a distressing surge in childhood obesity in India. The study, spanning from 1990 to 2022, paints a grim picture, disclosing that over 12.5 million children aged between five and 19 were grappling with obesity in 2022, a staggering leap from a mere 0.4 million in 1990. This concerning spike transcends gender lines, affecting 7.3 million boys and 5.2 million girls.
The study, conducted by the NCD Risk Factor Collaboration and the World Health Organization (WHO), highlights a global crisis as the prevalence of obesity surpasses one billion individuals worldwide, solidifying its status as the most common form of malnutrition. Notably, the findings emphasize the urgency of addressing childhood obesity on a global scale, echoing the epidemic that unfolded among adults in 1990.
India, grappling with its nutritional landscape, witnessed adult obesity rates surge from 1.2% in 1990 to 9.8% in 2022 for women and from 0.5% to 5.4% for men. An alarming 44 million women and 26 million men were classified as obese in 2022, signifying a significant health challenge. This trend echoes a larger global pattern where the rate of obesity has more than doubled in women and nearly tripled in men. In 2022, obesity affected 159 million children and adolescents, as well as 879 million adults.
Childhood obesity in India has multiplied fourfold from 1990 to 2022, underscoring a critical public health issue. Despite India ranking relatively lower in obesity prevalence (182nd for women and 180th for men out of 197 countries), experts warn of an impending "timebomb" as lifestyle changes propel the nation toward a health crisis. Dr. Sanjay Verma, witnessing a surge in clinically obese or overweight patients, asserts that approximately every fourth or fifth person he encounters faces weight-related health challenges.
The Lancet study further unravels a shift in lifestyle, with reduced exercise and unhealthy dietary habits contributing to the rise in obesity. Professor Majid Ezzati from Imperial College London stresses the need to improve the availability and affordability of healthy, nutritious foods to effectively combat both obesity and undernutrition. The study prompts a broader discussion on the global impact of external factors such as climate change, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the war in Ukraine, which pose a risk of exacerbating obesity and underweight rates.
While the study urges comprehensive policies to address the challenges posed by the obesity epidemic, WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus emphasizes prevention and management efforts from early life to adulthood. Governments, communities, and the private sector are called upon to collaborate in implementing evidence-based policies to curb the global obesity crisis. The Lancet study's findings underscore the critical role of various stakeholders in addressing this pressing public health issue, necessitating urgent and comprehensive interventions to reverse the trend and promote healthier lifestyles on a global scale.
(Inputs from various sources.)
(Rehash/Susmita Bhandary/MSM)
