Double Burden in India: Obesity and Undernutrition

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Context:

According to a new study published by the Lancet, India has become one of the countries with a high “double burden,” of Obesity and Undernutrition.

Relevance:

GS II: Health

Dimensions of the Article:

Defined by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as an abnormal or excessive accumulation of fat posing health risks.
In adults (20 years and above), obesity is identified if the Body Mass Index (BMI) is 30 kg/m² or more.
- BMI is calculated as weight in kilograms divided by the square of height in meters.
School-aged children and adolescents (5 to 19 years) are considered obese if their BMI is two standard deviations above the mean.

One of the four broad sub-forms of undernutrition.
An adult is considered underweight if their BMI is less than 18 kg/m².
School-aged children and adolescents are considered underweight if their BMI is two standard deviations below the mean.

Obesity in women increased from 1.2% in 1990 to 9.8% in 2022, with 44 million women living with obesity.
Obesity in men increased by 4.9 percentage points during the same period, with 26 million men living with obesity in 2022.
Significant increase in childhood obesity, with a 3 percentage point spike in girls and 3.7 percentage points in boys.
In 2022, 3.1% of girls and 3.9% of boys were obese.

Despite a decline, underweight prevalence remains high, with 13.7% of women and 12.5% of men.
Thinness in Indian girls is the highest globally, with a prevalence of 20.3%.
Thinness in Indian boys is the second-highest globally, with a prevalence of 21.7%.

Women’s vulnerability to weight gain is attributed to limited access or time for physical activities.
Prioritizing family nutrition over personal health contributes to weight gain in women.
Considering central obesity, rates could be as high as 40% to 50% in various parts of the country.
Central obesity, an excess accumulation of fat in the abdominal area, is a better predictor of future disease risks like diabetes and hypertension.

Obesity in India is no longer limited to the affluent; affordability and convenience of junk food contribute to its widespread prevalence.
- Example: Cheaper and tastier options like samosas and pakoras are more accessible than nutritious fruits and vegetables.
Despite affecting a larger population, a rural-urban divide persists in obesity rates.
- National Family Health Survey-5 (NFHS-5) data reveals obesity prevalence of 31.7% in urban women and 19% in rural women.
- For men, it is 28.6% in urban areas and 18.8% in rural areas.
Undernutrition prevails in extremely remote and impoverished areas of states like Bihar, Jharkhand, or Odisha, where access to food is limited, and some might consume only one meal a day.

Obesity’s health consequences are evident, leading to increased risks of diabetes, hypertension, heart attacks, and strokes, particularly in children.
The effects of undernutrition may not be as apparent but are likely to contribute to a higher burden of non-communicable diseases.
- Non-communicable diseases result from unhealthy behaviors rather than infections.

-Source: The Hindu