Published May 30, 2026 | 7:00 AM ⚊ Updated May 30, 2026 | 7:00 AM
NHFS-6 revealed that nearly one in every two men in Andhra Pradesh is overweight or obese.
Synopsis: NFHS-6 shows Andhra Pradesh has the highest prevalence of overweight and obese men (47.9%) among large Indian states, while Kerala leads among women (46.7%). The survey highlights a growing obesity burden across southern states, with rising prevalence in both urban and rural areas, raising concerns over lifestyle-related diseases.
Andhra Pradesh has emerged as the state with the highest prevalence of overweight and obese men, while Kerala has recorded the highest prevalence of obesity in women among large Indian states, according to the National Family Health Survey-6 (NFHS-6).
The survey found that 47.9% of men aged 15 to 49 years in Andhra Pradesh were overweight or obese, the highest among all major states in the country. Among women, Kerala topped the rankings with 46.7% classified as overweight or obese.
The findings, released as part of NFHS-6 (2023-24), underscored the growing burden of obesity and lifestyle-related diseases in India, particularly in the southern states, where several states report prevalence levels far above the national averages.
Nationally, 27.3% of men and 30.7% of women were overweight or obese, the survey found. By comparison, Andhra Pradesh’s male prevalence was nearly 21 percentage points higher than the national average, while Kerala’s female prevalence was 16 percentage points higher.
The survey revealed that nearly one in every two men in Andhra Pradesh was overweight or obese.
The state’s prevalence increased sharply from 36.5% in NFHS-5 (2019-21) to 47.9% in NFHS-6, representing one of the largest increases recorded in the country.
The burden was particularly pronounced in urban areas, where 57.3% of men were found to be overweight or obese. Even rural Andhra Pradesh reported a prevalence of 45.2%, indicating that excess weight was no longer confined to cities.
Among all states and Union Territories, only Puducherry (51.5%), Lakshadweep (48.9%) and Chandigarh (48.5%) recorded higher prevalence levels among men than Andhra Pradesh.
The state also registered one of the sharpest increases since NFHS-5, rising by 11.4 percentage points.
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For women, Kerala emerged as the most affected large state.
The survey found that 46.7% of women aged 15-49 years in Kerala were overweight or obese, making it the highest-ranking major state in the country.
The prevalence increased from 38.2% in NFHS-5, representing a rise of 8.5 percentage points in just a few years.
Kerala’s burden extended across both urban and rural populations. While 48.3% of urban women were overweight or obese, the prevalence remained remarkably high at 45.1% in rural areas.
The findings suggested that obesity was no longer primarily an urban phenomenon and had become widespread across the state’s population.
Only Puducherry (51.3%) and Lakshadweep (50.1%) recorded higher prevalence among women nationally.
NFHS-6 data showed a clear geographical pattern, with southern states occupying many of the highest positions in India’s obesity rankings.
For men, Andhra Pradesh (47.9%), Tamil Nadu (39.5%), Kerala (37%), Karnataka (36.4%) and Telangana (28.8%) all reported prevalence levels above or close to the national average.
Among women, Kerala (46.7%), Tamil Nadu (44.2%), Andhra Pradesh (41.5%), Karnataka (41.2%) and Telangana (36.3%) ranked among the highest in the country.
The pattern suggested that economic growth, urbanisation, dietary transitions, sedentary lifestyles and changing occupational patterns might have reshaped health outcomes across the region.
Tamil Nadu recorded a prevalence of 44.2% among women and 39.5% among men, placing it among the country’s most-affected states. Karnataka reported 41.2% among women and 36.4% among men.
Telangana’s prevalence among men stood at 28.8%, while 36.3% of women were overweight or obese.
The survey highlighted the extent of obesity spread beyond metropolitan centres.
Urban Andhra Pradesh reported one of the highest male prevalence rates in the country at 57.3%, meaning nearly six in 10 men were overweight or obese.
Among women, Karnataka recorded an urban prevalence of 51.7%, while Kerala and Andhra Pradesh reported 48.3% and 48.4%, respectively.
Equally significant was the rise in rural areas. Kerala’s rural female prevalence stood at 45.1%, while Andhra Pradesh recorded 38.1%. Among men, rural Andhra Pradesh reported a prevalence of 45.2%.
Public health experts have increasingly warned that obesity is no longer restricted to affluent urban populations and is becoming a widespread challenge across rural India as well.
Several states and Union Territories reported steep increases since NFHS-5.
Among men, Lakshadweep recorded the sharpest increase, up by 14.9 percentage points, followed by Chandigarh (+14.1), Andhra Pradesh (+11.4), Goa (+11.0) and Gujarat (+9.9).
Among women, Lakshadweep again recorded the largest increase, jumping by 16.6 percentage points. West Bengal reported an increase of 11.9 percentage points, followed by Karnataka (+11.0), Andhra Pradesh (+9.8) and Goa (+9.0).
The trend pointed to a rapidly growing burden of excess weight across diverse regions of the country.
The Health Ministry, while releasing NFHS-6, highlighted substantial gains in maternal and child health, immunisation, nutrition and healthcare access.
Institutional deliveries increased from 88.6% to 90.6%, antenatal care coverage rose to 95.9%, and full immunisation coverage among children increased from 83.8% to 87.1%.
However, the ministry also flagged obesity and other lifestyle-related conditions as emerging public health challenges.
“Emerging challenges such as rising non-communicable diseases, lifestyle-related risks and the dual burden of undernutrition and rising overweight/obesity among adults highlight the need for continued focus on preventive healthcare, behavioural change and balanced nutrition strategies,” the ministry said.
The findings were particularly significant because overweight and obesity have been major risk factors for diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease and several forms of cancer.
As India’s health profile shifts from infectious diseases toward chronic conditions, NFHS-6 suggested that obesity was becoming one of the defining public health challenges of the coming decade.
For now, the latest data placed Andhra Pradesh and Kerala at the centre of that story, with nearly half of the men in Andhra Pradesh and nearly half of the women in Kerala now classified as overweight or obese.
(Edited by Majnu Babu).
