The rising prevalence of obesity has emerged as a significant global concern in recent times, affecting individuals across all age groups. A recent global analysis published in The Lancet revealed alarming statistics regarding obesity among children and adults in India. The analysis indicated that a staggering 1.25 crore children aged 5 to 19 years, comprising 70.3 lakh boys and 50.2 lakh girls, were classified as overweight in 2022, representing an increase of over 4 lakh from 1990 figures.
Furthermore, the report highlighted a substantial increase in obesity rates among both children and adults compared to 1990 levels, with a growth exceeding three percent. However, this issue extends far beyond India, as demonstrated by another analysis published in The Lancet Journal, which revealed that globally, over one billion children and adults are affected by obesity. This figure surpasses previous estimates by the World Obesity Federation, indicating that the projected number of one billion people affected by obesity by 2030 was already surpassed by 2022.
The analysis, conducted by over 1,500 researchers from the World Health Organization (WHO), encompassed data from more than 22 crore individuals across 190 countries, focusing on analyzing height and weight to assess obesity and underweight prevalence. Both conditions were highlighted due to their detrimental effects on health, as they represent forms of malnutrition. Individuals with a Body Mass Index (BMI) equal to or exceeding 30 were categorized as obese. The analysis estimated that approximately 88 crore adults and 15.9 crore children were affected by obesity in 2022. Moreover, obesity rates among children and adolescents have quadrupled from 1990 to 2022, while rates among adults have more than doubled.
According to the analysis, obesity rates now exceed underweight rates in two-thirds of the world's countries. Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, emphasized the need for collaborative efforts between governments and communities to address obesity. He stressed the importance of support from organizations like the WHO and national public health agencies in implementing effective measures to curb the obesity epidemic.
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