New Delhi: Inviting expressions of interest (EoIs) from researchers and institutions across India, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has launched a nationwide collaborative initiative aimed at generating robust evidence to tackle the country’s escalating burden of obesity.
The initiative seeks to build a clearer understanding of how various interventions can effectively prevent and manage overweight and obesity, which have emerged as major public health concerns. The move comes amid a steady rise in obesity across all age groups, reflecting a significant shift in India’s disease profile.
Once largely confined to urban and affluent populations, obesity is now increasingly seen in smaller towns and rural areas. Data from the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5) indicate that nearly one in four adults in the country is overweight or obese. Studies have also flagged a growing prevalence among children and adolescents, raising concerns about future health risks.
Experts attribute this trend to changing dietary habits, reduced physical activity, increased screen exposure and rapid urbanisation. The widespread availability of processed, calorie-dense foods, coupled with sedentary lifestyles, has contributed to rising body weight. Alarmingly, obesity is now being detected at younger ages, increasing the likelihood of early onset of chronic illnesses.
Medical professionals describe obesity as a complex, chronic condition characterised by excessive fat accumulation, influenced by a combination of lifestyle, genetic and metabolic factors. Its impact extends beyond weight gain, significantly increasing the risk of non-communicable diseases such as Type 2 Diabetes, Hypertension and abnormal cholesterol levels. These conditions collectively heighten the risk of heart disease and stroke, placing an additional burden on India’s healthcare system.
At the same time, emerging research suggests that obesity in Indian populations is more complex than previously understood. Not all individuals with excess weight exhibit metabolic complications, while some with normal weight may have underlying risk factors such as high blood sugar or blood pressure. This has raised questions about the adequacy of Body Mass Index (BMI) as a standalone indicator, highlighting the need for a more comprehensive assessment of cardiometabolic health.
Against this backdrop, the ICMR’s initiative aims to undertake a large-scale secondary analysis of existing datasets. The focus will be on evaluating the effectiveness of different intervention strategies, including dietary changes, physical activity, behavioural counselling and multi-component approaches, in real-world settings.
A key objective is to understand why certain interventions work better for specific population groups. Factors such as age, gender, socioeconomic status, diet and baseline health conditions will be analysed to identify patterns of response and guide more targeted interventions.
Researchers have been invited to contribute data from completed or ongoing cohort studies, clinical trials and community-based interventions. By pooling high-quality data from across the country, the ICMR hopes to generate more reliable and comprehensive evidence than individual studies alone can provide.
“This collaborative effort will help us understand not only what works, but for whom and under what conditions,” a senior health official associated with the initiative said, emphasising the importance of tailored public health strategies.
The datasets are expected to include anthropometric measurements such as height, weight and BMI, along with details of interventions and follow-up outcomes. Additional information on blood pressure, blood glucose and lipid levels, where available, will further strengthen the analysis. All data will be shared in a de-identified format to ensure confidentiality, with institutions retaining ownership.
As India grapples with a dual burden of undernutrition and rising obesity, experts underline the need for strong, evidence-based policies. The ICMR’s call for collaboration is being seen as a crucial step towards developing effective, context-specific strategies to curb one of the country’s most pressing health challenges.
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