GUWAHATI: India could have over 440 million obese and overweight individuals by 2050, making it the second-highest globally after China. The number of overweight and obese adults in India could reach 218 million men and 231 million women, with the United States, Brazil, and Nigeria ranking third, fourth, and fifth, respectively.
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The research, conducted as part of the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) Study 2021, involved experts from the Indian Council of Medical Research and other international institutions. The study found that almost half of the world’s adults—one billion men and over a billion women aged 25 and above—were already overweight or obese in 2021. In India, this figure stood at nearly 180 million, including 81 million men and 98 million women.
Globally, the number of overweight and obese individuals could potentially rise to 3.8 billion by 2050, which would account for over half of the projected adult population at that time. Researchers also specified in detail that while China, India, and the United States would continue to have the highest numbers, sub-Saharan Africa could see a 254.8% increase in overweight and obese individuals.
The study also estimated that by 2050, about 16 million boys and over 14 million girls in India, aged 5-14 years, could be overweight or obese, making the country second only to China. However, in the 15-24 age group, India could have the highest burden globally, with over 22 million men and nearly 17 million women affected.
The study, published in The Lancet , is reported to be the most comprehensive global analysis to date, as it aims to help governments and health authorities identify high-risk populations for targeted interventions.
