Burden of Obesity in India: Need for Policy Changes to Attain Highest Possible Level of Health and Well-Being

The rise in obesity rates in India in the past 3-4 decades is alarming and obesity management needs transformation. A significant barrier is that obesity is often viewed in India as a lifestyle condition rather than a chronic disease, despite broad international recognition of this status. We propose four overall recommendations to drive transformation of obesity management in India: Change the narrative: Obesity is a complex, chronic disease, impacting multiple aspects of daily life to be addressed before complications or comorbidities arise Move from a disease management to a health-focused approach to reduce disparities in prevention and management of obesity Invest in healthcare systems and the capacity to improve obesity management and prevention Initiate, augment and scale the support given by the healthcare system to people living with obesity Policy change is needed in India to ensure that obesity is adequately managed, to improve health of the overall population and reduce disease burden and healthcare costs. Standardised treatment guidelines and algorithms will ensure that individuals with obesity receive up-to-date and consistent support. The burden of obesity can only be addressed through acceptance of obesity as a disease and collaboration across healthcare and policy stakeholders, with significant resource commitments at every level.