India is projected to have over 440 million overweight and obese people by 2050, making it the second-highest in the world after China, according to a global study published in The Lancet journal.

The study estimates that by mid-century, India could have 218 million overweight and obese men and 231 million women. The findings were part of the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) Study 2021, conducted by an international team of researchers, including experts from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).

The report also ranks the United States, Brazil, and Nigeria in the third, fourth, and fifth positions, respectively, in terms of the projected number of overweight and obese individuals.

Health experts have raised concerns over the rising trend of obesity in India, attributing it to sedentary lifestyles, unhealthy diets, and increasing urbanization. The growing burden of obesity-related diseases, including diabetes and cardiovascular issues, is expected to pose a significant public health challenge in the coming decades.

Researchers have emphasized the need for urgent interventions, including public health campaigns, dietary regulations, and lifestyle modifications, to curb the rising obesity epidemic and its associated health risks.