Childhood obesity is rising quickly across the world, and it’s becoming hard to ignore. More kids today are overweight or living with obesity than ever before. With its huge population and fast-changing lifestyles, India now finds itself right at the centre of this growing global health challenge and ranks second on the childhood obesity list. Scroll down to know more!
India Ranks Second In Childhood Obesity
The World Obesity Atlas 2026 places China at the top, with 6.2 crore children having high BMI and 3.3 crore living with obesity. As per The Indian Express, India follows closely behind. Yes, India has now moved ahead of the United States and several Western nations in childhood obesity numbers. The US has 2.7 crore children with high BMI and 1.3 crore living with obesity.
After analysing data up to 2025, researchers found that around 4.1 crore children in India have a high Body Mass Index (BMI). Out of these, nearly 1.4 crore are living with obesity. By 2040, at least 12 crore school-age children are expected to show early warning signs of chronic illnesses such as hypertension and cardiovascular disease due to excess weight.
Let’s break that down a bit. In 2025 alone, about 1.49 crore children aged 5 to 9 were overweight or obese. Among teens aged 10 to 19, the number crossed 2.6 crore. That’s a huge chunk of young people. Worldwide, over 20.7% of children between 5 and 19 are overweight or obese, a 14.6% rise since 2010.
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Why Are Children Gaining Unhealthy Weight Today?
Only 35.5% of school children actually receive school meals, which means many kids depend on outside food. Children between 6 and 10 years drink up to 50 ml of sugary drinks every day. Around 32.6% of infants under five months are not breastfed in the recommended way. At the same time, 13.4% of women aged 15 to 49 have high BMI, and 4.2% are living with Type 2 diabetes. All of this adds to the bigger picture.
So, what can we do about it? According to The Indian Express, experts say India needs to step up, and soon. They suggest healthier food in schools, stricter rules on junk food ads, and even taxes on sugary drinks. Early health check-ups and stronger primary healthcare can also make a big difference. The world hopes to stop the rise of childhood obesity by 2030, but most countries are not on track.
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