Obesity is such a great health hazard today that obesity worldwide has tripled since 1975. In 2016, more than 1.9 billion adults 18 years and older were overweight. Of these, more than 650 million adults were obese and had obesity-related problems. In India, the number of obese people has doubled in the last 10 years, according to the National Family Health Survey.

Through research, we have realized that obesity is difficult to treat and may require long-term changes in lifestyle and diet. Several researchers have highlighted that obesity represents 80 to 85 percent of the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. The survey highlights that the urban population is more prone to obesity compared to their rural counterparts.

Obesity tends to run in families, suggesting that there may be a genetic contribution. However, family members also tend to share the same diet and lifestyle habits. The environment also plays a role in obesity. Environmental factors include what and how often a person eats, a person’s activity level, and behavioral factors.

Obesity is increasing in children, which is having disastrous results in the younger population, thus affecting the newborns of these adults. In 2016, an estimated 41 million children under the age of 5 were overweight or obese.