Obesity epidemic of India

Obesity in India is on the rise. It has reached enormous proportions. As I sit and count at airports, the number of women who look obviously overweight and obese, the figures I get is 8 out of 10. And this is around same in children of all sexes and around 6 in 10 men show clearcut overweight and obesity that is obvious even to naked eye. Anthropometric measurements might reveal more of them. 

What are the likely causes?

I have a theory that starts analysing these cases right from the 2000s or previous century. Junk food eating and sedantry lifestyle had already given an upward push to obesity in last century. And this also gave rise to diabetes mellitus in both men and women. Hence, such mothers also had diabetes in pregnancy. Some who did not have diabetes otherwise had gestational diabetes. From 2000 to 2026 prevalence of gestational diabetes has risen in india. It has even spread to rural areas and recent national data gives a figure of 22.4% which is almost 1 in 4 pregnant mothers. 

Obesity epidemic in India 

And these mothers gave rise to large for gestational age babies and macrosomic babies. Though national figures do not reflect it, localised surveys have shown an upward trend in large for gestational age babies. But this is still less than western world. 

These babies and other normal for gestational age babies too along with pampering and lavish lifestyle and junk food eating could not rectify their weight and continued to be obese in childhood too. Moreover, large for gestational age babies also tend to put on weight easily. 

Then came social media and digital technology that further aggravated the situation of junk food eating and sedantry lifestyle. You will not be surprised to see even doctors moving around with excess of flab. How would such doctors explain about health to their obese patients, I wonder?

And to add to all this came activists claiming not to say anything to people who are fat. This only worsened the situation. Even doctors no more properly tell their patients on it. Instead some herbal companies and gym owners pitched in and made a roaring business of all these lapses on part of society and doctors. 

These young people now have obesity as well as metabolic disorders and find it hard to lose weight. The willingness to do so is also limited with no push from family or social circle. 

Alcohol in both male and female youth complicates the matter.