India is facing a rapid rise in obesity, with nearly one in four adults now classified as obese.
The findings of a new report launched by the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change in Delhi indicate that the country has reached a critical moment as obesity-related diseases increase across both rural and urban regions.
The report highlights sharp regional differences.
Citing the National Family Health Survey 2019–21, it notes that 41% of women in Delhi are obese, compared with 12% in Meghalaya. Among children aged 6 to 16, 22.8% in Delhi are obese, while Maharashtra has a lower figure at 13.6%.
According to the study, titled Building on success to secure India's future health, 24% of women and 23% of men in India are overweight or obese.
These levels are almost five times higher than they were three decades ago.
Urban areas show the highest rates, and the pattern varies widely across states.
The report places India’s struggle within a global context. Worldwide healthcare spending has doubled in the last twenty years, yet people are spending fewer additional years in good health. Health systems designed mainly to treat disease are now strained by rising demand and limited resources.
Global obesity rates have also doubled since 1990, now affecting nearly one billion people. If current trends continue, more than half of adults across the world could be overweight or obese by 2050, the report said.
The study warns that obesity is already impacting India’s disease burden and economic productivity. It estimates that obesity costs India about USD 2.4 billion per year in healthcare spending and reduces the country’s economic output by around USD 28.9 billion, which is close to 1% of GDP.
The report acknowledges ongoing efforts such as Eat Right India and the Fit India Movement, which aim to improve diets and increase physical activity. It also points to the “sin tax” on sugary drinks introduced this year and the development of national obesity guidelines as signs of stronger preventive measures.
During a roundtable in Delhi, experts emphasised the importance of making preventive health central to India’s long-term growth.
Vivek Agarwal, Country Director at the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change, said India has the potential to lead in prevention. "By combining technology, data, and community-driven action, India can not only reduce the growing burden of obesity but also build a stronger, more resilient health system for future generations," he said.