Forecasting the prevalence of overweight and obesity in India to 2040

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Shammi Luhar, University of Cambridge; Ian M. Timaeus, University of Cape Town; Rebecca Jones, Emory University; Solveig Argeseanu, Emory University; Shivani Patel, Emory University; Sanjay Kinra, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine; Lynda Clarke, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine; Rein Houben, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine
• Language: English
• Date: 2020-02-24
• Publisher: The Public Library of Science
• Publication Version: Final Published Version
• Copyright Statement: © 2020 Luhar et al.
• License: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0229438
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: PLOS One
• Volume: 15
• Issue: 2 (e0229438)
• Start Page: 1
• End Page: 17
• Grant/Funding Information: This work was supported by the Economic and Social Research Council (https:// esrc.ukri.org) [grant number ES/J500021/1] and the funding was received by SL. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.
• Keywords: Men; Multidisciplinary Sciences; Body Mass Index; States; Association; Global burden; Mortality; Science & Technology; Science & Technology - Other Topics
• Research Categories: Health Sciences, Nutrition; Health Sciences, Public Health; Health Sciences, Epidemiology

Abstract

Background In India, the prevalence of overweight and obesity has increased rapidly in recent decades. Given the association between overweight and obesity with many non-communicable diseases, forecasts of the future prevalence of overweight and obesity can help inform policy in a country where around one sixth of the world's population resides. Methods We used a system of multi-state life tables to forecast overweight and obesity prevalence among Indians aged 20-69 years by age, sex and urban/rural residence to 2040. We estimated the incidence and initial prevalence of overweight using nationally representative data from the National Family Health Surveys 3 and 4, and the Study on global AGEing and adult health, waves 0 and 1. We forecasted future mortality, using the Lee-Carter model fitted life tables reported by the Sample Registration System, and adjusted the mortality rates for Body Mass Index using relative risks from the literature. Results The prevalence of overweight will more than double among Indian adults aged 20-69 years between 2010 and 2040, while the prevalence of obesity will triple. Specifically, the prevalence of overweight and obesity will reach 30.5% (27.4%-34.4%) and 9.5% (5.4%-13.3%) among men, and 27.4% (24.5%-30.6%) and 13.9% (10.1%-16.9%) among women, respectively, by 2040. The largest increases in the prevalence of overweight and obesity between 2010 and 2040 is expected to be in older ages, and we found a larger relative increase in overweight and obesity in rural areas compared to urban areas. The largest relative increase in overweight and obesity prevalence was forecast to occur at older age groups. Conclusion The overall prevalence of overweight and obesity is expected to increase considerably in India by 2040, with substantial increases particularly among rural residents and older Indians. Detailed predictions of excess weight are crucial in estimating future non-communicable disease burdens and their economic impact.