ICMR to Draft Anti-Obesity Diet Plan for Indians

ICMR TO DRAFT ANTI-OBESITY DIET PLAN FOR INDIANS

Why in the News?

  • Government directive: The Centre has tasked ICMR to prepare an anti-obesity diet plan for Indians.
  • Alarming projections: Lancet projects India’s obese population will rise from 180 million (2021) to 449 million by 2050.
  • Global burden: India will rank third globally in obesity burden after USA and China.

ICMR to Draft Anti-Obesity Diet Plan for Indians

Key Details of the Initiative

  • Health research: ICMR’s National Institute of Nutrition (NIN) is conducting obesity-related health priority research.
  • School screenings: A national programme will measure BMI and waist-to-hip ratio of schoolchildren.
  • Urgent need: Obesity raises risks of diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, and increases healthcare costs.

Significance for Public Health

  • National priority: Obesity declared a national health priority; PM Modi has stressed the issue.
  • Policy vs. implementation: Deliberations underway on a policy-based or implementation-focused
  • Data-backed urgency: NFHS-5 shows sharp obesity rise among both men and women.

OBESITY AND NCDs IN INDIA

●     Definition: WHO defines obesity as excessive fat accumulation that threatens health.

●     NCD burden: Unhealthy diets cause 56.4% of India’s disease burden, largely from non-communicable diseases (NCDs).

●     Major causes: Poor diet, sedentary lifestyle, and urban stress drive obesity.

●     India’s response: Focus on prevention, nutritional awareness, and early intervention among youth.

●     Global concern: Obesity contributes to 10–15% of global deaths, and its economic costs are mounting.