- Advertisement -NEW DELHI, India — Obesity is rising at an alarming rate in India and has emerged as a major public health challenge, driven by unhealthy diets, lifestyle changes, and the growing consumption of ultra-processed foods, according to the Economic Survey for 2025–26 tabled in Parliament on Thursday. The survey, presented by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, said changing lifestyles, including sedentary habits, increased intake of ultra-processed foods (UPFs), and environmental factors are contributing to the worsening trend. Retail sales of UPFs in India surged from $0.9 billion in 2006 to nearly $38 billion in 2019, a 40-fold rise. It is during the same period that obesity has nearly doubled in both men and women. This mirrors the global rise of obesity, parallel to dietary shifts,” the survey said.