{"id":141474,"date":"2025-09-11T20:21:18","date_gmt":"2025-09-11T14:51:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/assamtimespost.in\/?p=141474"},"modified":"2025-09-11T20:21:18","modified_gmt":"2025-09-11T14:51:18","slug":"indias-alarming-health-crisis-obesity-surpasses-underweight-warns-unicef","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/assamtimespost.in\/?p=141474","title":{"rendered":"India\u2019s Alarming Health Crisis: Obesity Surpasses Underweight, Warns UNICEF"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/p>\n

I<\/span>ndia is grappling with an escalating obesity crisis, as experts warn that unhealthy diets and sedentary lifestyles could lead to a significant public health emergency. The recently published UNICEF<\/a> Child Nutrition Global Report 2025 indicates that, for the first time, obesity has surpassed underweight as the primary form of malnutrition among school-aged children and adolescents worldwide. Currently, nearly 188 million children globally are living with obesity, and projections suggest that over 27 million children and teenagers in India will be affected by 2030, representing about 11 percent of the global burden.<\/span><\/h4>\n
\"India\u2019s<\/a>
India\u2019s Alarming Health Crisis: Obesity Surpasses Underweight, Warns UNICEF<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Data from the National Family Health Survey reveals alarming trends across various age groups. The prevalence of obesity among children under five has skyrocketed by 127 percent since 2005-06. For adolescents, the rates have more than doubled among girls and nearly tripled among boys. Adult obesity is also on the rise, with cases increasing by 91 percent among women and 146 percent among men.<\/span><\/p>\n

Experts attribute this troubling rise to the surge in consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) and sugary beverages, compounded by increased screen time and decreased physical activity. Between 2011 and 2021, retail sales of UPFs in India grew at a compound rate of nearly 14 percent, displacing traditional diets that were rich in fruits and vegetables.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIndia is beginning to face the triple burden of malnutrition-stunting, micronutrient deficiencies, and obesity-sometimes within the same family,\u201d highlighted Marie-Claude Desilets, Chief Nutrition at UNICEF India, during a national media round-table focused on healthy diets.<\/span><\/p>\n

The economic ramifications of obesity are equally concerning. In 2019, obesity-related costs were estimated to be USD 29 billion, which constituted 1 percent of India\u2019s GDP. Without significant intervention, this figure could balloon to USD 839 billion, or 2.5 percent of GDP, by 2060.<\/span><\/p>\n

Health experts caution that obesity, particularly when established in childhood, is challenging to reverse and is associated with various health issues, including diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, and certain cancers. The stigma and psychological impact of obesity further contribute to its burden.<\/span><\/p>\n

While initiatives like the Fit India Movement, Eat Right India, and POSHAN Abhiyaan 2.0 have been launched, experts advocate for more robust measures, such as health taxes on junk food, stricter advertising regulations, and front-of-pack nutrition labeling.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe opportunity to act is now,\u201d Desilets emphasized, urging policymakers to take proactive steps to protect future generations from the widespread epidemic affecting all age groups.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

India is grappling with an escalating obesity crisis, as experts warn that unhealthy diets and sedentary lifestyles could lead to a significant public health emergency. The recently published UNICEF Child Nutrition Global Report 2025 indicates that, for the first time, obesity has surpassed underweight as the primary form of malnutrition among school-aged children and adolescents […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":141475,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"jnews-multi-image_gallery":[],"jnews_single_post":{"format":"standard","jnews_video_option_group":[[]],"override":[{"template":"1","parallax":"1","fullscreen":"1","layout":"right-sidebar","sidebar":"default-sidebar","second_sidebar":"default-sidebar","sticky_sidebar":"1","share_position":"bottom","share_float_style":"share-monocrhome","show_share_counter":"1","show_view_counter":"1","show_featured":"1","show_post_meta":"1","show_post_author":"1","show_post_author_image":"1","show_post_date":"1","post_date_format":"default","post_date_format_custom":"Y\/m\/d","show_post_reading_time":"1","post_reading_time_wpm":"300","post_calculate_word_method":"str_word_count","show_zoom_button":"1","zoom_button_out_step":"2","zoom_button_in_step":"3","show_post_tag":"1","show_popup_post":"1","number_popup_post":"2","show_post_related":"1","show_inline_post_related":"1"}],"image_override":[{"single_post_thumbnail_size":"crop-715","single_post_gallery_size":"crop-500"}],"trending_post_position":"meta","trending_post_label":"Trending","sponsored_post_label":"Sponsored by","disable_ad":"0","subtitle":"News Desk :"},"jnews_primary_category":[],"jnews_social_meta":[],"jnews_override_counter":{"view_counter_number":"0","share_counter_number":"0","like_counter_number":"0","dislike_counter_number":"0"},"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[206],"tags":[49780,49781,49782],"class_list":["post-141474","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-health-fitness","tag-indias-alarming-health-crisis","tag-obesity-surpasses-underweight","tag-warns-unicef"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":160274,"url":"https:\/\/assamtimespost.in\/?p=160274","url_meta":{"origin":141474,"position":0},"title":"Kolkata Pandal Stampede Probe: False Alarm, Rain & Crowd Lapses","author":"ASSAM TIMES POST","date":"October 18, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"A preliminary investigation by the Kolkata Police has identified three factors behind the deadly stampede at a community Durga Puja pandal in north Kolkata that claimed 19 lives: sudden rainfall, a misleading announcement and serious lapses in crowd management within the pandal premises. A senior Kolkata Police official said the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "National-International"","block_context":{"text":"National-International","link":"https:\/\/assamtimespost.in\/?cat=202"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/assamtimespost.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/1803303-kolkata-amit-shah-960x560-1.avif","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/assamtimespost.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/1803303-kolkata-amit-shah-960x560-1.avif 1x, https:\/\/assamtimespost.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/1803303-kolkata-amit-shah-960x560-1.avif 1.5x, https:\/\/assamtimespost.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/1803303-kolkata-amit-shah-960x560-1.avif 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":157585,"url":"https:\/\/assamtimespost.in\/?p=157585","url_meta":{"origin":141474,"position":1},"title":"Assam\u2019s Uma Chetry, Jintimani Kalita Earn India A Spots vs Australia A","author":"News Desk","date":"August 28, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Two Assam players, wicketkeeper-batter Uma Chetry and all-rounder Jintimani Kalita, have been named in the India A Women\u2019s squads for the upcoming series against Australia A, the Assam Cricket Association (ACA) announced, earning praise from the state body. The tour will feature three T20s, three one-day internationals and a four-day\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Assam"","block_context":{"text":"Assam","link":"https:\/\/assamtimespost.in\/?cat=200"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/assamtimespost.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/sp.avif","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/assamtimespost.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/sp.avif 1x, https:\/\/assamtimespost.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/sp.avif 1.5x, https:\/\/assamtimespost.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/sp.avif 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":160400,"url":"https:\/\/assamtimespost.in\/?p=160400","url_meta":{"origin":141474,"position":2},"title":"Air India : \u0985\u09f1\u09a4\u09f0\u09a3\u09f0 \u09b8\u09ae\u09af\u09bc\u09a4 \u099a\u09f0\u09be\u0987\u09f0 \u0986\u0998\u09be\u09a4, \u09e7\u09ea\u09ee \u09af\u09be\u09a4\u09cd\u09f0\u09c0\u09b8\u09b9 \u098f\u09af\u09bc\u09be\u09f0 \u0987\u09a3\u09cd\u09a1\u09bf\u09af\u09bc\u09be \u098f\u0995\u09cd\u09b8\u09aa\u09cd\u09f0\u09c7\u099b\u09f0 \u09ac\u09bf\u09ae\u09be\u09a8 \u09ac\u09c7\u0982\u0997\u09be\u09b2\u09c1\u09f0\u09c1\u09a4 \u0985\u09f1\u09a4\u09f0\u09a3","author":"News Desk","date":"October 20, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"\u09ac\u09bf\u09b6\u09be\u0996\u09be\u09aa\u099f\u09cd\u099f\u09a8\u09ae \u09ac\u09bf\u09ae\u09be\u09a8\u09ac\u09a8\u09cd\u09a6\u09f0\u09f0 \u09aa\u09f0\u09be \u0989\u09f0\u09be \u09ae\u09be\u09f0\u09bf\u099b\u09bf\u09b2 \u098f\u09af\u09bc\u09be\u09f0 \u0987\u09a3\u09cd\u09a1\u09bf\u09af\u09bc\u09be \u098f\u0995\u09cd\u09b8\u09aa\u09cd\u09f0\u09c7\u099b\u09f0 (Air India Express) \u098f\u0996\u09a8 \u09ac\u09bf\u09ae\u09be\u09a8\u0964 \u0997\u09a8\u09cd\u09a4\u09ac\u09cd\u09af\u09b8\u09cd\u09a5\u09be\u09a8 \u0986\u099b\u09bf\u09b2 \u09ac\u09c7\u0982\u0997\u09be\u09b2\u09c1\u09f0\u09c1\u09f0 \u0995\u09c7\u09ae\u09cd\u09aa\u09c7\u0997\u09cc\u09a1\u09bc\u09be \u0986\u09a8\u09cd\u09a4\u0983\u09f0\u09be\u09b7\u09cd\u099f\u09cd\u09f0\u09c0\u09af\u09bc \u09ac\u09bf\u09ae\u09be\u09a8\u09ac\u09a8\u09cd\u09a6\u09f0 (Kempegowda International Airport)\u0964 \u0985\u09f1\u09b6\u09cd\u09af\u09c7 \u0985\u09f1\u09a4\u09f0\u09a3 \u0995\u09f0\u09be\u09f0 \u0995\u09bf\u099b\u09c1 \u09b8\u09ae\u09af\u09bc\u09f0 \u09aa\u09c2\u09f0\u09cd\u09ac\u09c7 \u09ac\u09bf\u09ae\u09be\u09a8\u0996\u09a8\u09a4 \u098f\u099f\u09be \u099a\u09f0\u09be\u09af\u09bc\u09c7 \u0996\u09c1\u09a8\u09cd\u09a6\u09be \u09ae\u09be\u09f0\u09c7\u0964 \u0995\u09bf\u09a8\u09cd\u09a4\u09c1 \u09aa\u09be\u0987\u09b2\u099f\u09f0 \u09a6\u0995\u09cd\u09b7\u09a4\u09be\u09f0 \u09ac\u09be\u09ac\u09c7 \u0995\u09cb\u09a8\u09cb \u09a1\u09be\u0999\u09f0 \u09ac\u09bf\u09aa\u09a6\u09f0 \u09b8\u09c3\u09b7\u09cd\u099f\u09bf \u09a8\u09b9'\u09b2\u0964 \u0995\u09c7\u09ae\u09cd\u09aa\u09c7\u0997\u09cc\u09a1\u09bc\u09be \u09ac\u09bf\u09ae\u09be\u09a8\u09ac\u09a8\u09cd\u09a6\u09f0\u09a4 \u09a8\u09bf\u09f0\u09be\u09aa\u09a6\u09c7 \u0985\u09f1\u09a4\u09f0\u09a3 \u0995\u09f0\u09c7 \u09ac\u09bf\u09ae\u09be\u09a8\u0996\u09a8\u0964 \u098f\u09af\u09bc\u09be\u09f0 \u0987\u09a3\u09cd\u09a1\u09bf\u09af\u09bc\u09be\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "National-International"","block_context":{"text":"National-International","link":"https:\/\/assamtimespost.in\/?cat=202"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/assamtimespost.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/air-1.avif","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/assamtimespost.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/air-1.avif 1x, https:\/\/assamtimespost.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/air-1.avif 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":158816,"url":"https:\/\/assamtimespost.in\/?p=158816","url_meta":{"origin":141474,"position":3},"title":"Assam Police Intercept 10 Alleged Infiltrators at Border, Says Himanta","author":"News Desk","date":"September 19, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced on Friday, September 18, that Assam Police had foiled an alleged attempted infiltration along the state\u2019s border, claiming they intercepted 10 individuals who reportedly entered India with \u201culterior motives.\u201d In a post on social media platform X, Sarma stated that the 10 people\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Assam"","block_context":{"text":"Assam","link":"https:\/\/assamtimespost.in\/?cat=200"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/assamtimespost.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/ss-1.avif","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/assamtimespost.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/ss-1.avif 1x, https:\/\/assamtimespost.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/ss-1.avif 1.5x, https:\/\/assamtimespost.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/ss-1.avif 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":157522,"url":"https:\/\/assamtimespost.in\/?p=157522","url_meta":{"origin":141474,"position":4},"title":"India Russia ties : \u09f0\u09be\u099b\u09bf\u09af\u09bc\u09be\u09f0 \u09b8\u09c8\u09a4\u09c7 \u09e7\u09e7.\u09eb \u09b9\u09be\u099c\u09be\u09f0 \u0995\u09cb\u099f\u09bf \u099f\u0995\u09be\u09f0 \u09aa\u09cd\u09f0\u09a4\u09bf\u09f0\u0995\u09cd\u09b7\u09be \u099a\u09c1\u0995\u09cd\u09a4\u09bf\u09a4 \u09b8\u09cd\u09ac\u09be\u0995\u09cd\u09b7\u09f0 \u09ad\u09be\u09f0\u09a4\u09f0","author":"News Desk","date":"August 27, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"\u0986\u09ae\u09c7\u09f0\u09bf\u0995\u09be\u09f0 \u09f0\u09be\u09b7\u09cd\u099f\u09cd\u09f0\u09aa\u09a4\u09bf \u09a1\u2019\u09a8\u09be\u09b2\u09cd\u09a1 \u099f\u09cd\u09f0\u09be\u09ae\u09cd\u09aa\u09f0 \u09b8\u09a4\u09f0\u09cd\u0995\u09ac\u09be\u09a3\u09c0\u0995 \u0986\u0993\u0995\u09be\u09a3 \u0995\u09f0\u09bf \u09ad\u09be\u09f0\u09a4\u09c7 \u09f0\u09be\u099b\u09bf\u09af\u09bc\u09be\u09f0 \u09b8\u09c8\u09a4\u09c7 \u09a8\u09a4\u09c1\u09a8 (India is new with Russia) \u09aa\u09cd\u09f0\u09a4\u09bf\u09f0\u0995\u09cd\u09b7\u09be \u099a\u09c1\u0995\u09cd\u09a4\u09bf \u09b8\u09cd\u09ac\u09be\u0995\u09cd\u09b7\u09f0 (Defense agreement signing) \u0995\u09f0\u09bf\u099b\u09c7\u0964 \u09e7\u09e8\u09e6 \u0995\u09cb\u099f\u09bf \u09a1\u09b2\u09be\u09f0 (\u09aa\u09cd\u09f0\u09be\u09af\u09bc \u09e7\u09e7,\u09eb\u09e6\u09e6 \u0995\u09cb\u099f\u09bf \u099f\u0995\u09be) \u09ae\u09c2\u09b2\u09cd\u09af\u09f0 \u098f\u0987 \u099a\u09c1\u0995\u09cd\u09a4\u09bf\u09a4 \u09ae\u09b8\u09cd\u0995\u09cb\u09f0 \u09aa\u09f0\u09be \u2018\u098f\u09af\u09bc\u09be\u09f0\u09ac\u09f0\u09cd\u09a3 \u09f1\u09be\u09f0\u09cd\u09a8\u09bf\u0982 \u098f\u09a3\u09cd\u09a1 \u0995\u09a3\u09cd\u099f\u09cd\u09f0\u09b2 \u099b\u09bf\u09b7\u09cd\u099f\u09c7\u09ae\u2019 (\u098f\u09f1\u09be\u0995\u099b) \u0995\u09cd\u09b7\u09c7\u09aa\u09a3\u09be\u09b8\u09cd\u09a4\u09cd\u09f0 \u0995\u09cd\u09f0\u09af\u09bc \u0995\u09f0\u09be \u09b9\u2019\u09ac\u0964 \u09aa\u09cd\u09f0\u09a4\u09bf\u09f0\u0995\u09cd\u09b7\u09be \u09ae\u09a8\u09cd\u09a4\u09cd\u09f0\u09be\u09b2\u09af\u09bc\u09f0 \u098f\u0995 \u09b8\u09c2\u09a4\u09cd\u09f0\u09f0 \u0989\u09a6\u09cd\u09a7\u09c3\u09a4\u09bf\u09f0\u09c7\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "National-International"","block_context":{"text":"National-International","link":"https:\/\/assamtimespost.in\/?cat=202"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/assamtimespost.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/defance1.avif","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/assamtimespost.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/defance1.avif 1x, https:\/\/assamtimespost.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/defance1.avif 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":157227,"url":"https:\/\/assamtimespost.in\/?p=157227","url_meta":{"origin":141474,"position":5},"title":"CJP Team Chased and Attacked at Rajasthan School \u2014 BJP Accused","author":"ASSAM TIMES POST","date":"August 21, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"A team of Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) leaders, led by co\u2011founder Ashutosh Ranka, was attacked and driven out of Rampura Kanwarpura village in Jaipur\u2019s Bagru assembly area on Friday, August 21, 2026, while attempting to inspect a government primary school, party sources said. Dramatic video from the village showed a\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "National-International"","block_context":{"text":"National-International","link":"https:\/\/assamtimespost.in\/?cat=202"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/assamtimespost.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/evrc7jks_jaipur_625x300_21_August_26-960x560-1.avif","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/assamtimespost.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/evrc7jks_jaipur_625x300_21_August_26-960x560-1.avif 1x, https:\/\/assamtimespost.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/evrc7jks_jaipur_625x300_21_August_26-960x560-1.avif 1.5x, https:\/\/assamtimespost.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/evrc7jks_jaipur_625x300_21_August_26-960x560-1.avif 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pb5gAs-ANQ","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"amp_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/assamtimespost.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/68c2cd38cdf39-obesity-overtakes-underweight-as-india-faces-growing-health-crisis-unicef-112259174-16.jpeg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/assamtimespost.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/141474","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/assamtimespost.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/assamtimespost.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/assamtimespost.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/assamtimespost.in\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=141474"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/assamtimespost.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/141474\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":141476,"href":"https:\/\/assamtimespost.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/141474\/revisions\/141476"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/assamtimespost.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/141475"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/assamtimespost.in\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=141474"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/assamtimespost.in\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=141474"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/assamtimespost.in\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=141474"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}