According to the National Family Health Survey-6 (NFHS-6), obesity rates have surged considerably across the country. The proportion of women aged 15-49 years who are overweight or obese increased from 24% in the previous survey to 30.7%, while among men the figure rose from 22.9% to 27.3%. This upward trend is accompanied by a parallel increase in elevated blood sugar levels, with 17.8% of women and 20.9% of men now experiencing high blood sugar or taking diabetes medication, up from 13.5% and 15.6% respectively.

Southern and coastal regions have emerged as particular hotspots for these lifestyle diseases. Puducherry recorded the highest prevalence of overweight and obesity among women at 51.3%, followed by Lakshadweep at 50.1%, Andhra Pradesh at 47.9%, Sikkim at 47.5%, and Kerala at 46.7%. Among men, the highest levels were reported in Andaman and Nicobar Islands at 46.1%, Puducherry at 45.9%, Goa at 43.6%, Sikkim at 42.6%, and Andhra Pradesh at 41.5%.

High blood sugar levels present an even more pronounced problem in certain states. Kerala and Goa show the highest prevalence among women at 28.9% and 27.5% respectively, while among men the figures reach 32.1% in Goa and 31.9% in Kerala. Public health experts attribute the rising burden of non-communicable diseases to sedentary lifestyles, calorie-dense diets, reduced physical activity, and aging populations. Medical professionals note that hormonal changes during puberty, pregnancy, and menopause, combined with lower physical activity levels, contribute significantly to obesity rates among women.