Nearly 15 million children between the ages of five and nine, and more than 26 million children aged 10 to 19 in India were overweight or obese in 2025. This information comes from the World Obesity Atlas 2026, which was released on World Obesity Day, observed on March 4.
The report highlights the growing problem of childhood obesity in India. It shows that a large number of children and teenagers are affected by unhealthy weight gain, which can lead to serious health problems later in life, such as diabetes, heart disease, and high blood pressure.
The World Obesity Federation, an international organisation that works to reduce obesity worldwide, warned that countries are likely to miss the global target set for 2025. The goal was to stop and reduce the rise in childhood obesity by half. However, many nations have not made enough progress.
Because of this slow progress, the deadline has now been extended to 2030. Even with more time, the federation said that most countries are still not on track to meet the target. India is also facing challenges in controlling the growing number of overweight and obese children.
Experts say that unhealthy eating habits, lack of physical activity, and increased screen time are some of the main reasons for the rise in obesity among children. They stress the need for better awareness, healthier food choices, and more physical activity to improve children’s health.
The report serves as a warning that stronger action is needed from governments, schools, and families to address this serious public health issue.