Air India's BMI Rule: Fitness or Discrimination?

Air India's recent announcement regarding potential pay cuts or de-rostering for crew members with higher Body Mass Index (BMI) has sparked discussion. While presented as a move towards fitness and safety, its timing is notable.

This coincides with the patent expiry of the anti-obesity drug semaglutide, leading to a near market flood of almost 40 related products in India. The nation is currently facing a significant public health challenge with a high prevalence of obesity and metabolic disorders.

Approximately a quarter of Indians are overweight or obese, with conditions like diabetes, hypertension, and fatty liver disease on the rise. The issue is particularly concerning with the rapid increase in childhood obesity.

Factors contributing to this epidemic include the widespread availability of ultra-processed foods and increasingly sedentary lifestyles. A genetic predisposition among South Asians to accumulate body fat, even with a lean appearance, exacerbates the problem.