According to the National Family Health Survey, obesity is increasing. Compared with NFHS-4, the prevalence of overweight has increased in most States/UTs in NFHS-5. The main objective of successive rounds of the NFHS has been to provide reliable and comparable data relating to health and family welfare and other emerging areas in India. The NFHS-5 National Report lists progress from NFHS-4 (2015-16) to NFHS-5 (2019-21).
At the national level, obesity increased from 21% to 24% among women and 19% to 23% among men.
Experts attributed the increase in obesity to lack of physical activity and unhealthy food habits.
The number of overweight children increased from 2.1 per cent in NFHS-4 to 3.4 per cent in NFHS-5.
As per the NFHS-5, several states and union territories, including Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh, have registered an increase in the percentage of obesity among children below five years of age in comparison to NFHS-4 conducted between 2015 and 2016.
A vast majority of people do not seem to recognise the importance of leading a healthy and active life, the experts underline. They tend to lead sedentary lives and lack the motivation to do exercise of any kind including going for walks, they added.
Regrettably, parents do not realise the adverse consequences of life choice decisions they make on the health and nutritional well-being of children.
The public health experts have been calling for curbs on highly processed junk food to address obesity. It is a chronic disorder that involves excessive amounts of body fat which isn’t just a cosmetic concern but also involves health problems such as heart diseases, diabetes, high blood pressure, severe arthritis and even certain cancers.
Consuming anything in excessive quantities is always harmful to health. Junk food is high in calories and contains unhealthy fats that can lead to obesity and high sugar levels.
As per some experts, there are various microbial species in the stomach that help the body cells to battle against obesity, diabetes, provocative gut conditions, coronary illness, and so on. Junk foods are said to impact them badly.
Also, importantly too, the onus of inculcating healthy eating habits also starts at home. People should ensure steps to reduce the intake of unhealthy food and ensure more physical activity. There is a need for effective programmes and policies to address the issue and all stakeholders must come together and do the needful.