The latest warning from the World Obesity Federation has brought India at the center of growing global concern. According to the World Obesity Atlas 2026, India now ranks second worldwide after China in terms of overweight and obese children.

In 2025 alone, nearly 15 million children aged 5-9 and more than 26 million adolescents aged 10-19 in India were reported to be overweight or obese. Projections suggest that by 2040, 20 million Indian children may be living with obesity, while 56 million may be overweight.

Dr Monica Sharma, senior consultant, endocrinology, Aakash Healthcare, says lifestyle changes are at the heart of this surge. “We are seeing a problem of obesity in children because they do not do much activity and eat more junk food.

In most homes, children are sitting with mobile phones and playing games. Sweet drinks, processed snacks and heavy marketing make it worse. “.