Are Delhiites overweight?

According to the latest National Family Health Survey almost 4 out of every 10 people in Delhi are overweight or dealing with obesity.

Reportedly, the findings of National Family Health Survey no 5 says 41.3% of adult women and 38% men are overweight in the city.

Notably, this data has increased from National Family Health Survey no 4 as that time the data showcased 33.5% women and 24.6% men were overweight.

Moreover, the numbers are also higher than the national average of 24% women and 22.9% men.

The data also says that there is a decline in the figures of people who are underweight as it shows 10% women and 9.1% men are underweight in Delhi.

However, the data from the National Family Health survey does not give a clear figure of how many people are overweight or bulky.

Talking about the same Dr Suneela Garg, professor of community medicine at Maulana Azad Medical College said,

“The increasing rates of obesity means more people will end up with lifestyle diseases in the future. We need to increase awareness about proper diet and exercise. Not only are people eating more than the required daily calories, they are also leading a more sedentary life, especially in urbanised centres like Delhi.''

In 2020 a study by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine had predicted that 27.4% women would be overweight and 13.9%, obese by 2040 in India. For men, the ratios are 30.5% and 9.5%.

Meanwhile, fatness is one of the biggest risk factors for other lifestyle diseases like diabetes, hypertension, and heart ailments.