After diabetes and BP, obesity surge set off alarm bells across India

While India continues to battle the steep rise in two major lifestyle diseases type 2 diabetes and hypertension the growing cases of obesity has raised an alarm in the countryThe obesity surge comes at a time when millions of Indians turn away from homemade traditional diets to fatty cheesy and oily processed foods and sugarladen beveragesObesity is a major healthcare concern even in middleincome and lowincome countries because of its association with chronic diseases such as diabetes cardiovascular diseases and some cancersThe prevalence of overweight and obesity in India has doubled during the past two decades leading to a notable increase in the burden of noncommunicable diseases according to a recent study published in The Lancet Gastroenterology amp HepatologyAlthough India has made tremendous progress in providing primary and preventive health care to its citizens it has not recognised obesity as a major healthcare concern to be acted on argued the study titled ldquoObesity another ongoing pandemicrdquoObesity was also touted as a modifiable risk factor of Covid19 and the study emphasised that the goal of public health bodies should be to achieve a healthy weight at the population level that might reduce adverse outcomes for noncommunicable and infectious diseasesAccording to the data from the 20162021 National Family Health Survey NFHS about 20 per cent of the Indian population is obese including 5 per cent morbidly obese severely obese population A sharp increase in childhood obesity was also discoveredAccording to estimates India has 135 million obese peopleHealth experts blame change in eating habits as one of the key factors contributing to Indiarsquos obesity pandemicYoungsterrsquos diets in India have become more westernised and more dependent on processed and fast foodsThese foods frequently include high levels of calories sugar and fat which can cause weight gain and obesity say expertsAccording to Dr Kishore B Reddy Managing Director Amor Hospital in Hyderabad modernisation and urbanisation of our societies has brought in some undesired changes into our livesWe see more and more people today consume energyrich and fatrich foods but there is a significant reduction in physical activities This is leading to people adding weight which has significant financial implications Obese individuals and families tend to spend more not just on their healthcare but also for certain simple needs like transportation Dr Reddy notedIncreased consumption of sugars found in many ultra processed foods has been linked to overweight and obesity which affects nearly 40 per cent of the global population and millions of childrenIt is imperative to recognise the intricate relationship between sugar consumption and the development of diabetes Sugar once regarded as a simple pleasure can disrupt the delicate balance of our bodys glucose regulation predisposing individuals to this chronic conditionrdquo Dr Manoj Vithlani senior consultant physician and diabetologist HCG Hospitals Ahmedabad told IANSObesity among boys and girls in India is likely to see an annual rise of 91 per cent by 2035 if prevention treatment and support do not improve warned an alarming global report on the occasion of World Obesity Day in March this yearThe report published by World Obesity Federation showed that in 2020 boys had a 3 per cent obesity risk but by 2035 the risk will likely go up by 12 per cent and for girls the risk was 2 per cent in 2020 but in 2035 it will rise to 7 per centAlso Read Caring for maternal health through prenatal and postnatal yoga asanasThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever