India's Obesity Crisis: Experts Demand National Action

Obesity prevention and management are being called for integration into India's national public health programmes. Experts have developed national Obesity Management Protocols, advocating for supportive, stigma-free care, clearer food labelling, healthier school environments, and public awareness initiatives. Recent data from the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-6) indicates significant obesity prevalence in Mumbai and Maharashtra, with over 45.1% of women in Mumbai city and 47.7% in Mumbai Suburban identified as overweight or obese. Across urban Maharashtra, approximately 40.1% of women and 41.7% of men aged 15-49 years fall into these categories. Indian populations face distinct risks, with abdominal fat accumulation leading to serious health issues like diabetes, fatty liver, and heart attacks often a decade earlier than in Western populations. A BMI of 27 is a concern for Indians, rather than the traditional 30. Waist circumference is also a critical indicator, with men above 90 cm and women above 80 cm advised to seek lifestyle changes or medical consultation. The Obesity and Metabolic Surgery Society of India (OSSI) and the Endocrine Society of India (ESI) have collectively recommended broader governmental facilitation of healthcare for the obese, based on 55 recommendations from 78 experts. In response, Mumbai's civic body has established diabetic care clinics at tertiary hospitals that also address obesity, incorporating dieticians to guide patients. Nutrition intervention is now recognized as a primary management strategy for various metabolic diseases.