Lifestyle Shifts, Ultra-Processed Foods Fuel Rapid Rise in Obesity: Economic Survey

New Delhi- Obesity is increasing at an alarming pace and has emerged as a major public health challenge in India, the Economic Survey 2025–26 stated on Thursday.

The Survey, tabled in Parliament by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, attributed the worrying trend to unhealthy dietary habits, changing lifestyles marked by physical inactivity, rising consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPFs), and environmental factors.

The report noted that obesity now affects people across all age groups, significantly raising the risk of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as diabetes, heart disease, and hypertension, in both urban and rural areas.

Referring to data from the National Family Health Survey (NFHS) 2019–21, the Survey said that 24 per cent of Indian women and 23 per cent of men are overweight or obese. Among adults aged 15–49 years, 6.4 per cent of women and 4.0 per cent of men are classified as obese. Alarmingly, excess weight among children under five years increased from 2.1 per cent in 2015–16 to 3.4 per cent in 2019–21.

According to estimates, over 3.3 crore children in India were obese in 2020, a figure projected to rise sharply to 8.3 crore by 2035.

The Economic Survey also raised serious concerns over the rapid expansion of the UPF market in India, noting that it is replacing traditional dietary patterns, lowering overall diet quality, and increasing the risk of multiple chronic illnesses.

“India is among the fastest-growing markets for ultra-processed foods, with sales rising by more than 150 per cent between 2009 and 2023. Retail sales jumped from $0.9 billion in 2006 to nearly $38 billion in 2019—a 40-fold increase. This period has coincided with a near doubling of obesity levels among both men and women,” the Survey observed, adding that this trend mirrors global dietary shifts linked to rising obesity.

It further warned that the growing dependence on UPFs carries significant economic consequences, including higher healthcare costs, productivity losses, and long-term fiscal pressure.

The Survey highlighted several government-led initiatives aimed at preventing, managing, and reducing obesity. These include POSHAN Abhiyaan and Poshan 2.0, the Fit India Movement, Khelo India, Eat Right India, the nationwide awareness campaign ‘Aaj Se Thoda Kam’, Anaemia Mukt Bharat (AMB) initiatives, the School Health Programme, and promotion of yoga.

Together, these measures seek to adopt a holistic approach encompassing nutrition, physical activity, food safety, and lifestyle changes, with the goal of building a healthier, stronger, and obesity-free India.

With inputs from IANS