Lok Sabha Question No. 475 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-02-26
Subject: Obesity in India
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: G. HARI, CHANDU LAL SAHU

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH RESEARCH

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 475 TH

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 26 FEBRUARY , 2016

## OBESITY IN INDIA

475. SHRI G. HARI:

## SHRI CHANDU LAL SAHU:

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has conducted any study to understand the problem of obesit India;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether unhealthy foods and nonalcoholic beverages are the major factors for obesity i children in developing world and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether the Government plans to create a data of obesity -related deaths in India and if so, the details thereof; and
- (e)  the  steps  taken/being  taken  by  the  Government  to  create  awareness  among  people  in country?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN  THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## (SHRI SHRIPAD YESSO NAIK)

- (a) & (b) Indian Council of Medical Research has carried out three comprehensive nutrition surveys in India;
- i. in  tribal population in 10 states (2008 - 09),
- ii. in rural population in 10 states (2011 - 12), and
- iii. in urban population in 16 states (2014 - 15).

Indian  Council  of  Medical  Research  also c rried  out  a  Task  Force  study  entitled ' Childhood obesity in India: a multi - centric  study  on  its  measurement  and  determinants ' in 3 regions  of  the  country  i.e.,  New  Delhi  (by  AIIMS),  Hyderabad  (by  NIN)  and  Shillo (By NEIGRIHMS ), Meghalaya (2013 - 15).

The main findings of the surveys are summarized below:

i) Tribal surveys (2008 - 09) revealed that the prevalence of overweight and obesity was about 1 among children aged 6 - 17 years and it was 3% among adults ( ≥18 years)

ii) Rural surveys (2011- 12) in 10 major states of India reported the prevalence of overweight obesity  was  1 - 2%  among  6- 17years  children  and  it  was  12%  among  adults  ( ≥18  years). However, there were regional and gender differentials observed.

iii) Urban survey data of (2014- 15) on Childhood obesity data analysis is in progress.

Other  sporadic  studies  carried  out  among  urban  children  and  adolescents  in  Indi different  parts  of  the  country  have  revealed  that  the  prevalence  of  childhood  overweig obesity was 10 - 32%.

(c) : National Institute of Nutrition (NIN), Hyderabad conducted a study entitled 'Assessment of consumption of carbonated water beverages and its ill effects on urban Adolescents and adults'.  The  study  revealed  that  the  quantity  of  consumption of  carbonated  (non - alcoholic) beverages is very low compared to the consumption in developed countries and its effect o in body weight was also insignificant.

(d) & (e): The  National  Programme  for  Prevention  and  Control  of  Cancer,  Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases and Stroke (NPCDCS) was launched in 2010, in this regard.

The programme is being implemented in 20,000 Sub - Centres and 700 Community Health Centres (CHCs) in 100 Districts across 15 States/UTs with the following objectives:

- -Promoting healthy lifestyle including healthy food habits through massive health educati mass media efforts,
- -Opportunistic screening of persons above the age of 30 years,
- establishment of Non Communicable Disease (NCD) clinics at CHC and distr ict level, and
- -development of trained manpower and strengthening of tertiary level health facilities t the ever increasing burden of NCDs.

It  is  aimed  to  screen  about  7  crores  adult  population  (30  years  &  above)  for  ob diabetes and hyper t nsion and to initiate treatment at early stages. Under the programme, so far 1.76 crore persons aged 30 years and above were already covered.

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