India
- Overview
- Obesity prevalence
- Contextual factors
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National obesity risk *7/10This is a composite ‘obesity risk’ score (out of 10, the highest risk) based on obesity prevalence, rate of increase, likelihood of meeting the 2025 target, treatment indicator and childhood stunting levels.Childhood obesity risk *4/11This is a ‘risk score’ for each country’s likelihood of having or acquiring a major childhood obesity problem during the 2020s, taking account of current prevalence levels and risk for future obesity (based on stunting among infants, maternal obesity, maternal smoking, and breastfeeding rates).
Obesity prevalence
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The report card collates all the most-recent graphics for this country. If you would like to produce a custom report based on selected graphics, just tap the Add to custom PDF button below the graphics you would like to use.Population breakdowns
Drivers
Comorbidities
Economic impact
Policies
Contextual factors
Obesity prevalence
Adults, 2019-2021
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 15-49 |
| Sample size: | 825954 |
| Area covered: | National |
| References: | National Family Health Survey - 5 2019-21. India Fact Sheet. http://rchiips.org/nfhs/NFHS-5_FCTS/COMPENDIUM/NFHS-5%20India%20and%20State%20Factsheet%20Compendium_Phase-II.pdf (Accessed 26.11.2021) |
| Notes: | NB. Combined adult data estimated. These estimates were calculated by weighting male and female survey results. Weighting based on World Bank Population % total female 2020 (https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.POP.TOTL.FE.ZS - accessed 26.11..21) |
| Unless otherwise noted, overweight refers to a BMI between 25kg and 29.9kg/m², obesity refers to a BMI greater than 30kg/m². | |
Adults, 2019-2020
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 15-49 |
| Sample size: | 34648 |
| Area covered: | Regional |
| References: | International Institute for Population Sciences (IIPS) and ICF. 2021. National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5), India, 2019-20: Maharashtra. Mumbai: IIPS. Available at http://rchiips.org/nfhs/NFHS-5Report_MH.shtml (last accessed 24.03.21) |
| Notes: | Sub National - State of Maharashtra State of Karnataka 2019-20 also available at http://rchiips.org/nfhs/NFHS-5Report_KA.shtml National data should be available later in 2021 NB. Combined adult data estimated. These estimates were calculated by weighting male and female survey results. Weighting based on World Bank Population % total female 2019 (https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.POP.TOTL.FE.ZS - accessed 24.03.21)' |
| Unless otherwise noted, overweight refers to a BMI between 25kg and 29.9kg/m², obesity refers to a BMI greater than 30kg/m². | |
Adults, 2015-2016
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 15-49 |
| Sample size: | 754,697 |
| Area covered: | National |
| References: | International Institute for Population Sciences - IIPS/India and ICF. 2017. National Family Health Survey NFHS-4, 2015-16: India. Mumbai: IIPS. Available at: https://dhsprogram.com/pubs/pdf/FR339/FR339.pdf (Accessed 6 March 2019). |
| Notes: | Demographic Health Survey data includes ever married women aged 15-49 years only and may include males aged 15-59. |
| Unless otherwise noted, overweight refers to a BMI between 25kg and 29.9kg/m², obesity refers to a BMI greater than 30kg/m². | |
Adults, 2014-2015
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 18-69 |
| Sample size: | 5032 |
| Area covered: | Regional (Punjab) |
| References: | Tripathy JP, Thakur JS, Jeet G, Chawla S, Jain S, Prasad R. Urban rural differences in diet, physical activity and obesity in India: are we witnessing the great Indian equalisation? Results from a cross-sectional STEPS survey. BMC Public Health. 2016;16:816. doi:10.1186/s12889-016-3489-8. |
| Notes: | Uses a STEP questionnaire. |
| Definitions: | Asian cut-offs also available in paper. |
| Cutoffs: | WHO |
| Unless otherwise noted, overweight refers to a BMI between 25kg and 29.9kg/m², obesity refers to a BMI greater than 30kg/m². | |
Adults, 2005-2006
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 15-49 |
| Sample size: | 181912 |
| Area covered: | National |
| References: | International Institute for Population Sciences - IIPS/India and Macro International. 2007. National Family Health Survey NFHS-3, 2005–06: India: Volume I. Mumbai, India: IIPS and Macro International. |
| Notes: | Demographic Health Survey data includes ever married women aged 15-49 years only and may include males aged 15-59. |
| Unless otherwise noted, overweight refers to a BMI between 25kg and 29.9kg/m², obesity refers to a BMI greater than 30kg/m². | |
Adults, 1991-1995
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 35-64 |
| Sample size: | 5537 |
| References: | Reddy KS, Prabhakaran D, Shah P, Shah B. Differences in body mass index and waist:hip ratios in North Indian rural and urban populations. Obesity Reviews, 2002;3:197-202 |
| Unless otherwise noted, overweight refers to a BMI between 25kg and 29.9kg/m², obesity refers to a BMI greater than 30kg/m². | |
Adults, 1988-1990
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 18+ |
| Sample size: | 21361 |
| References: | Naidu AN, Rao NP. Body mass index: a measure of the nutritional status in Indian populations. European Journal of Clincial Nutrition 1994;48 (suppl 3):S131-S140 |
| Unless otherwise noted, overweight refers to a BMI between 25kg and 29.9kg/m², obesity refers to a BMI greater than 30kg/m². | |
Adults, 1974-1979
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 18+ |
| Sample size: | 39143 |
| References: | Naidu AN, Rao NP. Body mass index: a measure of the nutritional status in Indian populations. European Journal of Clincial Nutrition 1994;48 (suppl 3):S131-S140 |
| Unless otherwise noted, overweight refers to a BMI between 25kg and 29.9kg/m², obesity refers to a BMI greater than 30kg/m². | |
Children, 2016-2018
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 10-19 |
| Sample size: | 32120 |
| Area covered: | National |
| References: | Kumar, P., Srivastava, S., Mishra, P.S. et al. Prevalence of pre-diabetes/type 2 diabetes among adolescents (10–19 years) and its association with different measures of overweight/obesity in India: a gendered perspective. BMC Endocr Disord 21, 146 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12902-021-00802-w |
| Notes: | Sample size. Girls = 15602. Boys = 16518. NB. Combined chulddata estimated. These estimates were calculated by weighting male and female survey results. Weighting based on World Bank Population % total female 2019 (https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.POP.TOTL.FE.ZS - accessed 19.05.21) |
| Definitions: | BMI for age. Overweight or obesity = BMI > + 1 SD |
| Cutoffs: | WHO |
Children, 2016-2018
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 5-9 |
| Sample size: | 112316 (0-19 years) |
| Area covered: | National |
| References: | Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), Government of India, UNICEF and Population Council. 2019. Comprehensive National Nutrition Survey (CNNS) National Report. New Delhi. |
| Definitions: | Overweight BMI-for-age ≥ 1SD ≤ 2SD Obesity BMI-for-age ≥ 2SD |
| Cutoffs: | WHO |
Children, 2011-2012
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 10-19 |
| Sample size: | 1900 |
| Area covered: | Regional (Urban) |
| References: | Rohilla R, Rajput M, Rohilla J, Malik M, Garg D, Verma M. Prevalence and correlates of overweight/obesity among adolescents in an Urban City of North India. J Family Med Prim Care [serial online] 2014 [cited 2019 Oct 29];3:404-8. Available from: http://www.jfmpc.com/text.asp?2014/3/4/404/148127 |
| Cutoffs: | IOTF |
Children, 2007
| Survey type: | Self-reported |
| Age: | 13-15 |
| Sample size: | 8130 |
| Area covered: | Central Board of Secondary Education |
| References: | Global School-based Student Health Survey, India (CBSE) 2007. https://www.who.int/ncds/surveillance/gshs/2007_India_CBSE_fact_sheet.pdf?ua=1 (last accessed 24.11.20) |
| Cutoffs: | WHO |
Children, 2007-2008
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 2-17 |
| Sample size: | 20243 |
| Area covered: | National |
| References: | V.V Khadilkar, A.V.Khadilkar, T.J.Cole, S.A.Chiplonkar and Deepa Pandit. 2010. Overweight and obesity prevalence and body mass index trends in Indian children. International Journal of Pediatric Obesity, Early Online, 1 - 9. |
| Cutoffs: | IOTF |
Children, 2006
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 5-18 |
| Sample size: | 21485 |
| Area covered: | Subnational |
| References: | Data presented in Wang Y, Chen HJ, Shaikh S, Mathur P. Is obesity becoming a public health problem in India? Examine the shift from under- to overnutrition problems over time. Obesity Reviews 2009;10:456-474, data originally derived from Marwaha RK, Tandon N, Singh Y, Aggarwal R, Grewal K, Mani K. A study of growth parameters and prevalence of overweight and obesity in school children from Delhi. Indian Pediatr 2006; 43: 943–952. |
| Cutoffs: | IOTF |
Children, 2002-2003
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 5-17 |
| Sample size: | 2539 |
| Area covered: | Regional |
| References: | Unpublished work |
| Cutoffs: | IOTF |
