THE WEEK Health Summit 2025 | Experts call for change in family habits, bold policies to bend obesity, NCD curve

India is witnessing a sharp rise in obesity and non-communicable diseases (NCDs), which will have a major impact on public health and the economy, a panel of experts at THE WEEK Health Summit 2025 in New Delhi observed.

The panel discussion, with the theme 'Viksit Bharat—Bending the Obesity and NCD Curve for India', brought together Dr Ambrish Mithal, Chairman and Head of Endocrinology and Diabetes at Max Healthcare, Saket; Dr Vikram Mathews, Director, CMC, Vellore; Dr Santosh Shetty, Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital, Mumbai.

The panellists pointed out that the surge in lifestyle-related diseases is occurring earlier in life and affecting both urban and rural populations.

Dr Mithal pointed out that by the age of 40, nearly 20 per cent of people living in metro cities could be diabetic, and the proportion increases significantly by the age of 60. When pre-diabetes is included, the figures rise even more sharply.

Dr Shetty highlighted the concerning trend of an increasing number of younger patients being diagnosed with NCDs like cardiac ailments, cancer, obesity, and diabetes.

While urban India continues to see a surge in such diseases, rural areas are catching up quickly, noted Dr Mathews.

Lifestyle changes, reduced physical activity, and poor dietary habits have led to a growing burden of NCDs. "Excess body fat is driving the NCD epidemic," said Dr Mithal, adding, "Obesity is the mother of all modern non-communicable diseases.”

According to Dr Mithal, the rise of obesity in India correlates strongly with socioeconomic status—the more affluent the group, the higher the chances of NCDs.

A key concern raised during the session was that Indians tend to develop metabolic diseases at lower levels of body fat compared to Western populations. "So, a BMI of 25 or more is considered obese in India, which is just considered overweight in the West," Dr Mithal noted.

"We often tend to take Western parameters and impose them on our population and assume that those parameters are right. But this may not actually be true, whether it is BMI or blood sugar," said  Dr Mathews, highlighting the importance of developing health parameters specifically tailored to the Indian population.

Many patients, the panellists observed, are developing these conditions without any family history, making early screening even more crucial. The economic implications of this trend could be severe. These chronic diseases affect multiple organs, requiring repeated hospital visits, and significantly strain household finances. The panel called for a stronger emphasis on prevention and early detection to avoid complications that can lead to lifelong costs.

Childhood obesity: A growing threat

Childhood obesity emerged as one of the most worrying aspects of the discussion. As families have become economically prosperous, unhealthy eating patterns among children have increased.

Speakers noted that childhood obesity often progresses into adolescent and adult obesity, eventually leading to a range of NCDs. Prevention must begin early, they said, with families helping children develop healthy eating habits and schools encouraging them to be more physically active.

What India must do next

The panel proposed a set of wide-ranging measures aimed at prevention, early intervention, and improved treatment, including encouraging children to have healthy eating habits.

A multi-pronged approach is necessary to tackle obesity. "You cannot always blame the individuals for the problems. Family is exceedingly important. If you have tonnes of sweets coming into the house for Diwali, Christmas and New Year, how do you expect the one person who is diabetic not to have it? Families have to change their eating habits," noted Dr Mithal.

Wider policy changes are needed to strengthen access, affordability, and awareness around healthy choices, the panellists observed, including making healthy food more affordable. Just as smoking was made socially unacceptable, similar efforts should be made to discourage unhealthy food consumption.

While prevention remains the cornerstone of bending the diabetic and NCD curve, the experts also noted that treatment options for diabetes and obesity have advanced significantly. “Even if conditions have developed, modern science offers effective treatments. Treatment is always an option,” they concluded.