Child Diabetes and Heart Cases Soar in India as Expert Blames Lifestyle and Diet
Childhood obesity fuels sharp rise in diabetes, heart disease in India, warns expert.
A growing health crisis is gripping India’s youth, with childhood obesity fueling an unprecedented rise in diabetes and heart disease, conditions once confined to adults. Dr. Rahul Verma, Director of Paediatrics, Neonatology, and General Paediatrics at Sir H.N. Reliance Foundation Hospital, has sounded the alarm, attributing this disturbing trend to sedentary lifestyles and the pervasive influence of Western diets.
According to a recent study in the Indian Journal of Cardio Diabetology and Metabolic Diseases, over 6 million Indian children are overweight, with 2.4 million classified as obese. Shockingly, 44% of childhood diabetes cases and 23% of heart disease cases are linked to obesity, with children as young as 10 showing early signs of these chronic conditions. “This is a radical shift from a decade ago,” Dr. Verma told HT Lifestyle. “Increased screen time, minimal physical activity, poor sleep, and easy access to high-calorie processed foods are creating a perfect storm for health issues.”
The adoption of Western diets—rich in ultra-processed foods (UPFs), sugary drinks, refined grains, and fats, while low in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains—is a key driver. UNICEF’s Child Nutrition Global Report 2025 highlights a 127% rise in overweight children under five and a 288% surge in adolescent obesity from 2005 to 2021. The UPF market in India ballooned from $900 million in 2006 to $37.9 billion in 2019, fueled by aggressive marketing targeting youth. This dietary shift not only causes weight gain but also heightens risks of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, fatty liver, and mental health issues.
Dr. Verma warns that children face a lifetime of health challenges due to prolonged exposure to these habits, which disrupt insulin sensitivity and elevate cholesterol and blood pressure. “Conditions like fatty liver disease, once rare in children, are now increasingly common,” he noted.
To reverse this trend, Dr. Verma urges families and schools to prioritize balanced diets featuring traditional home-cooked meals, whole grains, and fresh produce while limiting junk food and sugary beverages. He recommends at least 60 minutes of daily physical activity through sports, outdoor play, or walking. “Small, consistent changes—less screen time, more movement, and wholesome meals—can reshape children’s health,” he emphasized.
As India grapples with this escalating crisis, collaboration among parents, educators, and policymakers is critical to fostering healthier environments and safeguarding future generations from preventable chronic diseases.
