The survey said, Jan. 30 -- India's Economic Survey, which was released on Thursday, recognised obesity as a major public health challenge in the country.

"Obesity is rising at an alarming rate and is today a major public health challenge in India. Driven by unhealthy diets, lifestyle changes, including sedentary lifestyles, increased consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPFs), it is affecting people across all age groups and increasing the risk of NCDs such as diabetes, heart disease, and hypertension."

The 2019-21 National Family Health Survey (NFHS) reports that 24 per cent of Indian women and 23 per cent of Indian men are overweight or obese, the survey said.

The survey said ultra-processed foods (UPFs) are displacing long-establi...