India’s top obesity experts have called for urgent government intervention, warning that the country is sitting on an obesity epidemic that needs to be part of national public health programmes. The call comes from two of the country’s leading medical bodies, which say the condition must be treated as a chronic disease, not a lifestyle failure.
The Obesity and Metabolic Surgery Society of India (OSSI) and the Endocrine Society of India (ESI) have jointly asked for stigma-free care, clearer food labelling, healthier schools and stronger public awareness. The demand builds on their first joint Expert Consensus on Obesity Management Protocols, developed by 78 experts with 55 recommendations and published in August 2026.
Doctors say the problem has grown too large for clinics alone to handle.
The numbers behind the alarm
The scale of the crisis is clear from the latest government data. As per the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-6), based on data collected in 2023-24, over 45% of women in Mumbai city and 47% in Mumbai Suburban are overweight or obese. Across urban Maharashtra, about 40% of women and nearly 42% of men in the 15 to 49 age group fall into this category.
Other studies paint a similarly grim picture. “Nearly four of every 10 Indian adults, as per the ICMR-INDIAB study, have abdominal obesity, which is particularly important, as abdominal fat is closely linked to insulin resistance and other cardiovascular risk factors,” said Dr Aparna Govil Bhasker, a bariatric and metabolic surgeon. “The risk does not begin with the first heart attack; it can accumulate silently for years.”
What the experts want from the government
The OSSI and ESI have recommended that the government formally integrate obesity prevention and management into national public health programmes. Their charter asks for the condition to be recognised as a chronic disease that requires medical care, not moral judgement.
“Obesity is a chronic disease that requires timely recognition, scientific treatment and long-term care. This joint consensus provides a unified, India-specific framework that can help move the conversation away from blame and towards evidence-based medical care,” said Dr K. S. Kular, president of the Obesity and Metabolic Surgery Society of India.
The experts also want obesity care to be accessible and compassionate. “People living with obesity are often made to feel that their weight is simply the result of poor eating habits or lack of willpower. This creates guilt, shame and hesitation in seeking medical help,” said Dr Bhasker. “Obesity deserves the same scientific, compassionate and long-term approach as any other chronic disease. The focus should be on improving health, not blaming the individual.”
Why BMI alone is not enough for Indians
A central message from the consensus is that Indians need different yardsticks. “Anyone who has a Body Mass Index (BMI) of over 30 is considered obese,” explained Dr Om Lakhani, executive committee member of the ESI. “However, for the Indian population, we tend to be wary even if the BMI is 27.”
The reason is body composition. In western populations, fat is generally subcutaneous, under the skin, which actually insulates the body. Indians carry more abdominal fat, which drives diabetes, fatty liver and heart attacks, and these conditions strike almost a decade earlier than in the West.
“India needs an approach to obesity that reflects the unique metabolic risks of our population. Assessment must look beyond weight alone and consider the overall health of the individual,” said Dr Kaushik Pandit, president of the Endocrine Society of India.
Waist circumference matters too. Men with a waist above 90 cm and women above 80 cm should be cautious, the experts said. “BMI is only one part of the picture,” said Dr Nitin Kapoor, endocrinologist at CMC Vellore.
Treatment must go beyond willpower
The consensus lays out personalised treatment based on disease severity: healthy eating and physical activity remain the foundation, with options such as psychological support, doctor-supervised medications, endoscopic therapies and bariatric surgery for severe cases.
Some civic hospitals are already responding at the treatment level. “At the tertiary care civic hospitals level, diabetic care clinics have already been set up, which also handle cases of obesity,” said Dr Nikhil Bhagwat, head of the endocrinology department at the BMC’s Nair Hospital. “There are also nutritionists on board to advise and guide patients.”
Experts say that is a start, but a national response cannot stop at clinics. Whether policy catches up to the science remains to be seen.
FAQs
What is the new obesity consensus?
The Expert Consensus on Obesity Management Protocols, jointly developed by OSSI and ESI with 78 experts and 55 recommendations, published in Obesity Surgery in August 2026. It gives India-specific guidance for prevention, diagnosis, treatment and long-term care.
How common is obesity in India?
NFHS-6 data shows over 45% of women in Mumbai and about 41% of urban Maharashtra adults are overweight or obese. The ICMR-INDIAB study found nearly 4 in 10 Indian adults have abdominal obesity.
What BMI is considered obese for Indians?
Doctors say a BMI over 30 is obese, but Indians should be cautious from a BMI of 27 because of higher abdominal fat and earlier metabolic complications. A waist above 90 cm for men and 80 cm for women is also a warning sign.
What treatment options exist for obesity?
Lifestyle changes remain the base, with options including psychological support, doctor-supervised medications, endoscopic therapies and bariatric or metabolic surgery for severe cases, based on individual health needs.
What are the experts asking the government to do?
Integrate obesity prevention and management into national public health programmes, ensure stigma-free care, improve food labelling, create healthier school environments and run public awareness campaigns.
Informeia will track how policymakers respond to this call for a national obesity strategy.
