India's Obesity Epidemic: 440 Million by 2050

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India could have 440 million overweight or obese people by 2050, second only to China globally, according to new research published in The Lancet.

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Young people are especially vulnerable, with India projected to have the world's highest number of overweight adolescents aged 15-24 by mid-century.

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Multinational food companies have strategically shifted focus to India, where "weaker regulations have created favorable markets" for ultra-processed foods.

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India saw one of the largest increases in ultra-processed food sales between 2009-2019, alongside Cameroon and Vietnam, driving the obesity epidemic.

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Experts now recommend looking beyond BMI to include waist measurements, with new categories of "clinical obesity" and "pre-clinical obesity" proposed.

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The complex "dual burden" of malnutrition in India means childhood undernutrition often triggers mechanisms that promote fat storage later in life.

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Prime Minister Modi addressed the crisis in his February 23rd "Mann Ki Baat" radio address, stating "obesity will have to be dealt with to be a fit and healthy nation."

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Only 40% of countries have national obesity policies, dropping to just 10% in low and middle-income nations where the epidemic is growing fastest.

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