Overview
- A Tony Blair Institute white paper released in New Delhi on November 25 reports that about 24% of women and 23% of men in India have overweight or obesity.
- The analysis estimates roughly USD 2.4 billion in annual healthcare spending linked to obesity and about USD 28.9 billion in lost economic output, near 1% of GDP.
- Citing NFHS 2019–21 data, the report highlights stark disparities, with 41% of women in Delhi obese versus 12% in Meghalaya, and childhood obesity in Delhi at 22.8% compared with 13.6% in Maharashtra.
- If current trends persist, the report projects obesity could approach one-third of India’s population by 2050.
- Recommended actions include tighter food-environment rules, scaled digital risk screening and incentives under the ABDM, and preparation for affordable anti-obesity medicines, leveraging India’s digital and manufacturing strengths as experts flag a higher-risk Indian obesity phenotype.