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Epidemiology of childhood overweight & obesity in India: A systematic review

Harish Ranjani, T S Mehreen, Rajendra Pradeepa

  • 1Madras Diabetes Research Foundation & Dr Mohan's Diabetes Specialities Centre, WHO Collaborating Centre for Non Communicable Diseases Prevention & Control, IDF Centre for Education, Chennai, India.

The Indian Journal of Medical Research
|April 29, 2016
PubMed

Insights

Childhood obesity rates in India are rising, affecting both higher and lower socioeconomic groups. This trend highlights a growing public health concern for non-communicable diseases in adulthood.

Area of Science:

  • Public Health
  • Epidemiology
  • Pediatrics

Background:

  • Childhood obesity is a significant risk factor for adult non-communicable diseases (NCDs).
  • Nationwide data on childhood overweight and obesity prevalence in India is limited and lacks standardized definitions.
  • Understanding trends is crucial for public health interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review and analyze trends in childhood and adolescent overweight and obesity in India from 1981 to 2013.
  • To synthesize existing data due to the paucity of uniform nationwide studies.
  • To provide a clearer picture of the magnitude of the problem.

Main Methods:

  • A comprehensive literature search was conducted across scientific databases for studies published over three decades.
  • Keywords included "childhood obesity," "adolescent overweight," "prevalence," and "trends."
  • Additional data sources included cross-references and official agency websites.

Main Results:

  • Analysis included data from 52 studies across 16 Indian states.
  • The combined prevalence of childhood overweight and obesity increased significantly, reaching 19.3% after 2010, up from 16.3% in 2001-2005.
  • Obesity prevalence was found to be higher in northern compared to southern India.

Conclusions:

  • Overweight and obesity rates are increasing among Indian children and adolescents.
  • The rise is observed across socioeconomic strata, including lower-income groups.
  • This trend poses a growing challenge, especially as underweight remains a concern in some populations.
Abstract

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