Obesity was once a sign of prosperity. Now it’s a crisis. For years, India called its obese the “khate peete khandan”. The well-fed, the well-off. That thinking is changing fast.
Doctors today see an epidemic. Let’s zoom in on what’s happening in Ahmedabad. Teenagers are urgently seeking medical advice for obesity.
Doctors have again cautioned against sedentary lifestyle, more screen time and processed food as the principal drivers of rising obesity among adolescents. Now, they believe the problem has now reached a point where lifestyle changes alone are no longer enough. Medication is increasingly being prescribed.
The drug advocated is glucagon-like peptide (GLP)-1. It is a hormone that regulates blood sugar, promotes a feeling of fullness, and slows digestion. As a medication, it reduces appetite by mimicking this function. According to a report, it is approved for use in children based on specific clinical criteria.
It’s now being prescribed to patients as young as 14 and 15.
A report cited the case of an 18-year-old patient who weighed 120kg when he first came in. At 5 feet 5 inches, his BMI was around 40. That’s in the morbidly obese range. The family had tried diet control and daily physical activity.
When nothing worked, they sought medical help. He was put on GLP-1 treatment and lost up to 3kg per month. He also underwent counselling and lifestyle modification. He now weighs 85kg. The weight loss helped him gain confidence.
Yes, some disciplined teens do manage to lose weight through diet and exercise alone.
The cases come as World Obesity Day is observed on March 3 every year. This year’s theme is “8 billion reasons to act on obesity.” Experts say adolescents are among the most vulnerable groups. Doctors warn of early-onset lifestyle diseases, sleep apnoea, and breathlessness among those affected.
The Economic Survey 2025-26 flags obesity as a major national health challenge. The share of overweight and obese men reportedly rose from 9% in 2005 to 22.9% in 2019. For women, it went from 13% to 24% in the same period. India’s consumption of ultra-processed food also jumped from 0.9 billion USD to 37.9 billion USD between 2005 and 2019.
No drug is a substitute for discipline. But medicines are not a bad thing if they come the head start for change.
Also Read: Childhood Obesity Rising In India, But Change Is Possible https://www.vibesofindia.com/how-to-control-increasing-child-obesity-in-india/
