By A recent study published in The Lancet projects that by 2050, India may have approximately 450 million (45 crore) adults over the age of 25 who are either overweight or obese. This alarming projection positions India as the country with the second-highest number of overweight or obese individuals globally, following China, which is expected to have 627 million affected individuals, and ahead of the United States, anticipated to have 214 million.
As of 2021, India had 180 million overweight or obese adults, indicating a significant projected increase over the coming decades. The study highlights that India, China, and the USA currently constitute the largest populations of overweight or obese individuals worldwide. Globally, if current trends persist, it is estimated that by 2050, approximately 3.8 billion adults over the age of 25 will be overweight or obese, accounting for over half of the projected global adult population at that time. Of these, about 1.95 billion individuals are expected to be classified as obese.
The increasing prevalence of obesity and overweight individuals is associated with various health complications, including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and certain cancers. This trend underscores the urgent need for effective public health interventions and policies aimed at promoting healthier lifestyles, improving dietary habits, and increasing physical activity among populations to mitigate the impending health crisis.
