India has the second-highest number of children living with obesity globally, raising concerns about a looming public health crisis and a surge in early-onset chronic diseases, according to the latest report by the World Obesity Federation.
The federation warned that the world is set to miss the 2025 global target to halt the rise in childhood obesity, with most countries including India remaining off track even with the deadline extended to 2030.
In 2025, nearly 14.9 million Indian children aged 5–9 years and over 26.4 million adolescents aged 10–19 were living with overweight or obesity. The country ranks second only to China in total numbers, with 41 million school-age children (5–19 years) living with high BMI and 14 million living with obesity alone, the report titled World Obesity Atlas 2026 stated.
“The increase in childhood obesity worldwide shows we have failed to take seriously a disease that affects one in five children. Governments urgently need to step up prevention and management efforts for children living with overweight and obesity, and ensure that they receive the care they need,” said World Obesity Federation chief executive Johanna Ralston.
The report estimated that by 2040, around 20 million Indian children are expected to be living with obesity, while 56 million could be living with overweight or obesity. At least 120 million school-age children are projected to show early signs of chronic conditions linked to high BMI, including hypertension and cardiovascular disease.
Disease indicators attributed to high BMI are set to rise sharply between 2025 and 2040. Cases of BMI-related hypertension among children aged 5–19 are projected to increase from 2.99 million to 4.21 million. Hyperglycaemia cases could rise from 1.39 million to 1.91 million, high triglycerides from 4.39 million to 6.07 million, and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) from 8.39 million to 11.88 million.
Nearly 74% of Indian adolescents fail to meet recommended physical activity levels, while only 35.5% of school-age children receive school meals. About 32.6% of infants experience sub-optimal breastfeeding, and 13.4% of women aged 15–49 live with high BMI.
Globally, over one in five children aged 5–19 are now living with overweight or obesity, up from 14.6% in 2010. The federation estimates that by 2040, 507 million children worldwide could be affected.
The federation warned that the world is set to miss the 2025 global target to halt the rise in childhood obesity, with most countries including India remaining off track even with the deadline extended to 2030.
In 2025, nearly 14.9 million Indian children aged 5–9 years and over 26.4 million adolescents aged 10–19 were living with overweight or obesity. The country ranks second only to China in total numbers, with 41 million school-age children (5–19 years) living with high BMI and 14 million living with obesity alone, the report titled World Obesity Atlas 2026 stated.
“The increase in childhood obesity worldwide shows we have failed to take seriously a disease that affects one in five children. Governments urgently need to step up prevention and management efforts for children living with overweight and obesity, and ensure that they receive the care they need,” said World Obesity Federation chief executive Johanna Ralston.
The report estimated that by 2040, around 20 million Indian children are expected to be living with obesity, while 56 million could be living with overweight or obesity. At least 120 million school-age children are projected to show early signs of chronic conditions linked to high BMI, including hypertension and cardiovascular disease.
Disease indicators attributed to high BMI are set to rise sharply between 2025 and 2040. Cases of BMI-related hypertension among children aged 5–19 are projected to increase from 2.99 million to 4.21 million. Hyperglycaemia cases could rise from 1.39 million to 1.91 million, high triglycerides from 4.39 million to 6.07 million, and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) from 8.39 million to 11.88 million.
Nearly 74% of Indian adolescents fail to meet recommended physical activity levels, while only 35.5% of school-age children receive school meals. About 32.6% of infants experience sub-optimal breastfeeding, and 13.4% of women aged 15–49 live with high BMI.
Globally, over one in five children aged 5–19 are now living with overweight or obesity, up from 14.6% in 2010. The federation estimates that by 2040, 507 million children worldwide could be affected.
