India is experiencing a worrying surge in overweight and obesity across all age groups, says UNICEF’s Child Nutrition Global Report 2025. For the first time ever, obesity has overtaken underweight worldwide as the most common malnutrition problem in school-aged children and adolescents, with nearly 188 million kids globally now living with obesity. The Indian snapshot is sobering : Among under-5 children: obesity prevalence more than doubled (127% rise) between 2005–06 and 2019–21 (from 1.5% to 3.4%). Among adolescents: prevalence shot up by 125% in girls and a jaw-dropping 288% in boys. Among adults: obesity increased by 91% in women and 146% in men.
By 2030, India could have 27+ million children and adolescents with obesity, representing 11% of the global burden. Why the rise? Diets have shifted dramatically. India’s ultra-processed food (UPF) market ballooned from USD 900 million in…
