Being overweight isn’t merely a personal drawback—it’s a worldwide monetary catastrophe throughout the making. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his newest Mann Ki Baat, didn’t merely flag weight issues as a nicely being concern nonetheless as a looming financial catastrophe for India and the world.
The monetary burden of weight issues is rising at an alarming value, threatening GDP progress, workforce productiveness, and healthcare packages worldwide.
In India alone, obesity-related costs had been $28.95 billion in 2019, accounting for 1% of GDP. If current traits persist, this burden might triple to $81.53 billion (1.57% of GDP) by 2060 and skyrocket to $838.6 billion (2.5% of GDP), as per World Weight issues Observatory.
The Monetary Survey 2023-24 issued a stark warning: “If India should reap the constructive elements of its demographic dividend, it’s vital that its inhabitants’s nicely being parameters transition within the route of a balanced and quite a few weight reduction plan.”
The difficulty is just not confined to India. Globally, obesity-related costs are projected to devour 3.6% of GDP by 2025, with Thailand anticipated to lose 4.9% of its GDP and the UAE a staggering 11.04% by 2060.
These losses stem from direct medical payments, misplaced productiveness, and systemic inefficiencies. Throughout the U.S., weight issues costs $260.6 billion yearly in medical payments—double what normal-weight individuals incur. By 2060, world obesity-related healthcare spending is anticipated to achieve $18 trillion, surpassing even the monetary toll of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Weight issues impacts labor markets in a variety of strategies. Absenteeism costs U.S. employers $26.8 billion yearly as chubby workers miss three additional sick days per yr. Presenteeism, the place decreased bodily stamina and cognitive effectivity lower work productiveness, accounts for a 15-30% decline in effectivity. Incapacity claims related to obesity-driven musculoskeletal issues value the U.S. $31.1 billion yearly. In bodily demanding sectors like growth and hospitality, productiveness losses exceed 5%.
Sources: World Properly being Group (WHO), World Weight issues Federation
Previous productiveness losses, weight issues immediately impacts wages and employment. Obese white girls earn 11.9% decrease than their normal-weight counterparts. In client-facing roles, a one-standard deviation enhance in physique fat reduces wages by 2.7% for girls. Hiring discrimination ends in 8% lower employment expenses for chubby workers, costing economies similar to the U.Okay. £3.6 billion yearly in unrealized human capital.
Persistent weight issues decreases workforce participation by 3.4% in OECD nations, whereas the U.S. loses $2.6 trillion in federal tax revenue per decade ensuing from obesity-driven unemployment. Childhood weight issues lowers tutorial attainment, reducing lifetime earnings by $19,000–$40,000 per baby. By 2060, weight issues might shrink Australia’s GDP by 3.49% and Mexico’s by 5.01%.
A sedentary lifestyle and an rising reliance on ultra-processed meals (UPFs) are fueling the catastrophe. The Monetary Survey 2024-25 has urged movement, calling for warning labels on high-sugar, high-salt, and high-fat meals, restricted promoting and advertising and marketing of junk meals (notably to youngsters), the elimination of UPFs from schools, hospitals, and public areas, and subsidies on extra wholesome meals like millets, fruits, and greens. Consistent with the World Properly being Group (WHO) and the Indian Council for Evaluation on Worldwide Monetary Relations (ICRIER), India’s UPF sector grew at a CAGR of 13.37% from 2011 to 2021.
Household spending data from the Household Consumption Expenditure Survey (HCES) 2022-23 reveals that rural households allocate 9.6% of their meals value vary to processed meals, whereas metropolis households spend 10.64%.
No matter these warnings, India nonetheless lacks a cohesive nationwide weight issues method. Whereas insurance coverage insurance policies exist for baby eating regimen and vulnerable groups, no full plan addresses weight issues all through all demographics. In a TOI report, retired scientist Avula Lakshmaiah from the Nationwide Institute of Food plan warned: “Lack of livelihood, various costs, and the emotional toll ensuing from lack of societal assist moreover contribute significantly to this monetary burden.”
PM Modi is urging large names to affix India’s battle in opposition to weight issues, recognizing that reversing this growth requires public-private collaboration. Governments worldwide are already taking movement. Australia’s sugar tax ($0.40/100g) is anticipated to cut back weight issues prevalence by 2% and generate $500 million yearly for prevention functions. The U.S. Diabetes Prevention Program saves $4,300 per participant over 15 years by the use of lifestyle interventions. Bariatric surgical process, though pricey ($32,868 per course of), reduces long-term healthcare use by 29%.
