Graphic of the day: The obesity challenge

India overtakes America in absolute volume, yet its obesity rate stays a fraction of US levels

Last Updated: Mar 05, 2026, 13:23 IST1 min

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World Obesity Atlas 2026 reveals a demographic shift: India now hosts 14 million obese children, surpassing the US's 13 million. Although India's share of the population remains relatively low at about 4 percent compared to 13 percent in China and 21 percent in the US—the sheer volume of cases signals a looming health care challenge for the country's future workforce. The report also notes that obesity in children will overtake underweight cases by 2027 with 228 million cases forecast by 2040.

First Published: Mar 05, 2026, 13:57

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