India’s obesity crisis has taken a serious turn as the country warns that nearly half of its population will be overweight or obese by 2050. The latest Lancet study suggests this number could reach 450 million, equivalent to around 33% of the projected population.
The country had the second-highest number of overweight adults in 2021, with 180 million affected. However, experts fear that this number may increase due to rising obesity rates.
Research has shown that urban populations are more affected by obesity, particularly those with high waist circumference or waist-to-hip ratios. Currently, around 40% of women and 12% of men in India have abdominal obesity, which is measured at a waist size of over 90cm for men and 80cm for women.
The data also suggests that urban populations are more prone to weight gain due to various lifestyle factors. Furthermore, the Body Mass Index (BMI) score has been used to identify overweight individuals, with different BMI ranges applicable for different ethnic groups, including Indians.
While BMI is a useful indicator of health, it has some limitations, particularly in measuring body fat percentage. For example, muscular individuals may have a high BMI without excessive fat. Nevertheless, the World Health Organization recommends using BMI as an essential tool to assess weight-related health risks.
The alarming rate of obesity in India highlights the need for urgent action to address this growing public health crisis.
Source: https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/2041113/crisis-india-warned-450m-too-fat