India Ranks Second Globally in Childhood Obesity with Rising Health Risks

India ranks second globally in childhood obesity, with over 41 million children aged 5-19 affected in 2025, according to the World Obesity Atlas 2026. The country faces a rapid rise in obesity-related health risks, including hypertension, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases, projected to affect 120 million children by 2040. Experts highlight lifestyle changes, sedentary habits, and limited awareness as key factors, urging urgent policy actions such as sugar taxes, marketing restrictions, and improved public health initiatives to address this growing crisis.