Up to 8.3 crore children in India may develop obesity by 2035, the Economic Survey 2025-2026 released by the Finance Ministry has warned. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman tabled the survey in Parliament on Thursday ahead of the Union Budget. The document offers an official assessment of the current state of the economy along with a forward-looking review.
The survey attributed the projected rise in obesity to sedentary lifestyles, the growing prevalence of unhealthy diets, rising consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPFs), and environmental factors.
"Retail sales of UPFs in India surged from $0.9 billion in 2006 to nearly $38 billion in 2019, a 40 fold rise. It is during the same period that obesity has nearly doubled in both men and women. This mirrors the global rise of obesity, parallel to dietary shifts," the survey said.
The report noted that obesity is increasing across the population, cutting across age groups, socio-economic segments, and rural and urban areas. It also flagged the health risks linked to this trend, including a higher likelihood of non-communicable diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, and hypertension.
The survey highlighted a rise in excess weight among young children, stating that 3.4% of children were found to have excess weight in 2019-21, up from 2.1% in 2015-16, indicating early exposure to unhealthy diets and lifestyles. It added that over 3.3 crore children were obese in 2020.
To tackle the issue, the survey recommended school-level interventions, including improving access to drinking water, providing free fruits, ensuring only healthy options are available in cafeterias, and removing vending machines. "Integrating mandated daily and weekly physical activity time with classroom activity is crucial for both mental and physical health and will reinforce the benefits," the survey said.
The report also suggested forming a wellness council led by school staff and implementing a written wellness policy to strengthen school-based measures. In addition, it recommended regular training and workshops for parents and staff, along with greater collaboration with local communities.
The survey further proposed introducing a school well-being score to encourage institutions to prioritise student health alongside academic outcomes.
"To incentivise both public and private schools to prioritise student well-being, a school well-being score may be calculated. This would allow parents to assess school performance based on both the academic achievements and the students' well-being," the survey said.
Also Read: Economic Survey On Poverty, Inclusion: India's Rural Transformation Gains New Momentum
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