# Burden of Obesity in India: Need for Policy Changes to Attain Highest Possible Level of Health and Well‐Being

## TL;DR

India's rising obesity rates require policy changes to treat obesity as a chronic disease and improve health outcomes.

## Contribution

The paper proposes policy recommendations to reframe obesity management in India through systemic and narrative changes.

## Key findings

- Obesity is often seen as a lifestyle issue in India, hindering effective management.
- Transforming healthcare systems and policies is essential to reduce obesity-related disparities and burdens.
- Accepting obesity as a chronic disease and implementing standardized guidelines can improve treatment outcomes.

## Abstract

The rise in obesity rates in India in the past 3–4 decades is alarming and obesity management needs transformation. A significant barrier is that obesity is often viewed in India as a lifestyle condition rather than a chronic disease, despite broad international recognition of this status.

We propose four overall recommendations to drive transformation of obesity management in India:
Change the narrative: Obesity is a complex, chronic disease, impacting multiple aspects of daily life to be addressed before complications or comorbidities ariseMove from a disease management to a health‐focused approach to reduce disparities in prevention and management of obesityInvest in healthcare systems and the capacity to improve obesity management and preventionInitiate, augment and scale the support given by the healthcare system to people living with obesity

Change the narrative: Obesity is a complex, chronic disease, impacting multiple aspects of daily life to be addressed before complications or comorbidities arise

Move from a disease management to a health‐focused approach to reduce disparities in prevention and management of obesity

Invest in healthcare systems and the capacity to improve obesity management and prevention

Initiate, augment and scale the support given by the healthcare system to people living with obesity

Policy change is needed in India to ensure that obesity is adequately managed, to improve health of the overall population and reduce disease burden and healthcare costs. Standardised treatment guidelines and algorithms will ensure that individuals with obesity receive up‐to‐date and consistent support. The burden of obesity can only be addressed through acceptance of obesity as a disease and collaboration across healthcare and policy stakeholders, with significant resource commitments at every level.