The full gamut of conditions that comprise metabolic diseases, usually impacting people with advancing age, are affecting even children, studies show. As per the report, released on World Obesity Day (March 4), in 2025, there were 14.9 million children in the 5-9 years group and more than 26.4 million children in the 10-19 age group in India who were overweight or obese. About 41 million children had a high BMI rate. Further, estimates suggest that by 2040, 20 million children in India will be obese and 56 million will be overweight. While, globally, China leads both categories, with 62 million children with high BMI and 33 million with obesity, India comes second, and is tailed by the United States (27 million high BMI; 13 million obesity).

Source: The Hindu March 11, 2026 02:37 UTC