India is staring at a major public health crisis. A new white paper has warned that obesity cases in the country are set to rise dramatically by 2050, placing an enormous burden on the healthcare system.
Medical experts are now calling for a fundamental shift in how obesity is understood, diagnosed and treated. For years, obesity has often been labelled as the result of poor lifestyle choices, unhealthy eating, lack of exercise or lack of discipline. But health professionals argue that this perception is outdated and harmful.
According to them, obesity is a complex, chronic disease influenced by genetics, hormones, metabolism and environmental factors, not simply personal behaviour.
The data is worrying. By 2050, an estimated 17.4% of women and 12.1% of men in India are expected to be living with obesity.
Even more concerning is the rapid rise in childhood obesity, which experts say could lead to early-onset diabetes, heart disease and other serious health conditions.
Medical professionals are urging policymakers and the public to stop viewing obesity as a “lifestyle problem.”
One expert in the report strongly stated, “Obesity is not a lazy person’s problem,” highlighting that biological and genetic factors play a significant role in weight gain and fat storage. Dr Satish Koul, Senior Director & Unit Head, of Internal Medicine at Fortis Memorial Research Institute (FMRI) in Gurugram, explains that obesity behaves like other chronic diseases, such as diabetes or hypertension. It involves long-term changes in how the body regulates hunger, metabolism and fat storage.
Once established, it is difficult to reverse without medical intervention and long-term management.
Classifying obesity as a chronic disease would change how it is treated, shifting the focus from blame to medical care, early diagnosis and structured treatment plans. Source: India Today
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