India’s obesity tsunami: 2025 statistics demand immediate action

Murthy Chavali Dec 17, 2025 Health

[{"selector":"#anim-0ee064d9-293b-4eae-b208-1db8815c295a [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(31.249999886225726%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] Health The numbers are staggering. In 2025, approximately 21.8 crore men and 23.1 crore women in India are overweight or obese – a mind-boggling third of India’s entire population. Read the article

[{"selector":"#anim-6517f211-d982-4ca4-ab31-2c8839972d79 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(31.233667133513382%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] Health Despite this alarming prevalence, obesity remains a neglected public health crisis in India, overshadowed by infectious disease narratives. Read the article

[{"selector":"#anim-1ec63fe0-20c3-46eb-bb48-e722b2ec9f06 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Health According to the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5, 2019-21), overweight and obesity among Indian adults have surged alarmingly. Read the article

[{"selector":"#anim-7ba41c2b-1c9f-475b-8ea9-e46dccf4efb0 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-31.249999886225726%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] Health Among women aged 15-49 years, overweight and obesity now affect 24%, with generalised obesity impacting 6.4%. Read the article

[{"selector":"#anim-138b6753-ae49-4689-837d-190290235065 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Health Among men, the figures are comparably grim: 23% are overweight or obese, with 4% meeting criteria for obesity. Read the article

[{"selector":"#anim-975f36e7-56c1-4437-a270-8007564ac4b4 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(18.788532486319028%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] Health India faces a choice: recognise obesity as the systemic threat it has become and invest in multidisciplinary solutions or absorb an unsustainable fiscal and human cost in subsequent decades. Read the article