Economic Survey: Obesity Soars Across All Ages, Dietary Reforms Crucial for India
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News18•29-01-2026, 15:30
Economic Survey: Obesity Soars Across All Ages, Dietary Reforms Crucial for India
- •The Economic Survey highlights obesity as a major public health challenge in India, affecting all age groups due to unhealthy diets, sedentary lifestyles, and increased consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPFs).
- •National Family Health Survey (NFHS) 2019-21 data shows 24% of Indian women and 23% of men are overweight or obese, with a troubling rise in excess weight among children under five.
- •India is one of the fastest-growing markets for UPF sales, with a 40-fold rise from USD 0.9 billion in 2006 to nearly USD 38 billion in 2019, mirroring the global obesity surge.
- •The survey recommends exploring a ban on UPF advertisements, restrictions on infant milk marketing, and mandatory front-of-pack nutrition labelling for high-fat, sugar, and salt (HFSS) foods.
- •Government initiatives like POSHAN Abhiyaan, Fit India Movement, and Eat Right India are promoting a holistic approach to combat obesity, with the health ministry aiming for a 10% reduction in oil consumption.
Why It Matters: Obesity is a growing public health crisis in India, necessitating urgent dietary reforms and policy interventions.
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