Srinagar, June 25 -- Sitting in his Jammu clinic, the senior gastroenterologist describes a condition that has slipped into the region almost without warning. "It doesn't make noise in the beginning," he says. "But over time, it can silently destroy the liver. It can even lead to cancer."

For Dr. Gupta, fatty liver is just the surface. Beneath it lies something bigger-the steady rise of obesity across Jammu and Kashmir.

What was once rare in the region is now becoming a serious public health crisis, reshaping the lives and bodies of people who never saw it coming.

The valley, long known for its active lifestyle and home-cooked meals, is seeing rapid changes in how people eat and live. Many have swapped home kitchens for restaurant tabl...