India Could Soon Have the Highest Number of Obese Children in the World, Warns UNICEF Official
India Could Soon Have the Highest Number of Obese Children in the World, Warns UNICEF Official
India is at risk of becoming the country with the highest number of overweight and obese children in the world within the next decade if urgent action isn’t taken, a senior UNICEF India official has cautioned. Marie-Claude Desilets, Chief of Nutrition at UNICEF India, shared her concerns while discussing the upcoming UNICEF Child Nutrition Global Report 2025. She pointed to a rapidly growing trend of obesity among children and adolescents across the country and highlighted the need for immediate policy interventions to prevent a future health crisis.
One of the most pressing measures, she said, is the introduction of a front-of-pack nutrition label (FOPNL)—a move that the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is currently working on.
“We’re really hopeful that FSSAI will soon make front-of-pack labelling a reality,” Desilets said. “It could be a crucial step forward in addressing the rise of obesity and overweight in India.”
UNICEF projects that by 2030, over 27 million Indian children and adolescents aged 5 to 19 could be living with obesity—an alarming number that would account for 11% of the global burden. If trends continue unchecked, India could lead the world in childhood obesity within a decade.
Desilets believes India still has a unique window of opportunity. “Your current obesity rates are relatively low, which gives you a head start,” she said. “India has the potential to become a global leader in preventive action, not just in managing obesity but in setting the standard for other countries.”
She emphasized that introducing clear nutrition labelling is only one part of the solution. Other steps include regulating the marketing of unhealthy foods—particularly to children—levying health taxes on sugary and ultra-processed products, and promoting nutrition education at every level.
“It’s not just about policies—it’s also about protecting children,” she noted. “We need to ensure companies can’t target kids with unhealthy food marketing at sports events, concerts, or during their favourite TV shows.”
The Supreme Court has already directed FSSAI to finalize new rules mandating front-of-pack warning labels, which would help consumers identify foods high in sugar, salt, and unhealthy fats—key contributors to obesity and lifestyle diseases.
Public health advocates, including the Nutrition Advocacy in Public Interest (NAPi) think tank, have also called on FSSAI to prioritize science and public health over industry pressure when finalizing these regulations.
India, like many other South Asian countries, is facing what experts call a “triple burden of malnutrition”—the simultaneous challenges of undernutrition, micronutrient deficiencies, and rising obesity. This makes the need for immediate and targeted action all the more critical.
To tackle this growing problem, Desilets suggested a broader set of reforms, including taxes on unhealthy food, support for farmers growing healthy produce, and stronger advertising regulations—especially during peak hours when children are most likely to be exposed.
Despite the looming concerns, Desilets praised India’s ongoing health initiatives such as the Fit India Movement, Eat Right India, and POSHAN Abhiyan 2.0. She also acknowledged progress in schools and workplaces where awareness campaigns around sugar and oil consumption have already begun.
She recalled Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Independence Day message, where he urged citizens to cut back on cooking oil consumption by 10%. “Even small steps like these can make a big impact on public health,” she said. While acknowledging that India has made several positive strides, she stressed that much more needs to be done—and soon.
