Biswabrata Goswami
Kolkata, 12 April: In a significant push to confront one of India’s fastest-growing public health threats, the Association of Metabolic & Obesity Clinicians and Endocrinologists inaugurated a 2-day international-standard Obesity–Metabolic Conference on Saturday, bringing together more than 1,000 doctors and global experts in what is being seen as a watershed moment in the country’s fight against obesity.
Held to mark World Obesity Day and World Health Day, the conference has emerged as one of the largest multidisciplinary academic congregations on metabolic health in India, reflecting growing concern over the scale and complexity of the crisis.
The highlight of the event is the unveiling of India’s first multi-specialty joint consensus on obesity management—an initiative expert described as a “historic correction” to a long-standing gap in clinical practice. Developed through collaboration among specialists in endocrinology, cardiology, hepatology, psychiatry, orthopedics, and primary care, the consensus framework offers India-specific, phenotype-based guidelines tailored to the unique metabolic risks faced by South Asians.
Medical experts at the conference underscored the urgency of the situation, noting that nearly 350 million Indians are currently living with abdominal obesity, a major risk factor behind a surge in non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular ailments, and fatty liver disease.
“Obesity is not merely a lifestyle issue but a chronic, progressive and treatable disease,” Dr Supratik Bhattacharya, an expert diabetes and endocrinology specialist and secretary, AMOCE, emphasised, warning that delayed intervention could sharply increase the country’s long-term healthcare burden. Early and structured treatment, they noted, could help prevent over 230 obesity-linked conditions.
Citing emerging data, the veteran Endocrinologist Dr A Ramachandran and Chairman of ARH Diabetes Hospital, Chennai, pointed to a steady rise in body mass index (BMI) across both urban and rural populations over the past decade, with an average increase of 2 to 3 units. More alarmingly, he highlighted a visible spike in abdominal adiposity—considered particularly dangerous due to its strong association with metabolic disorders—among Indians.
The trend, he noted, is being driven largely by deteriorating dietary patterns and a growing shift towards sedentary lifestyles. “Changes in diet and reduced physical activity are the two major contributors to this rise,” he observed.
Dr Ramachandran also drew attention to a disturbing increase in obesity among younger populations. “There has been nearly a 20 per cent rise in obesity prevalence among school-aged children, especially in the 11 to 14 age group,” he said, attributing it to higher fat consumption and declining levels of physical activity.
The deliberations also marked a paradigm shift in obesity management—from a narrow focus on weight loss to a broader strategy centred on organ protection and disease modification. Experts highlighted the role of advanced pharmacotherapies, precision medicine, and integrated care models combining nutrition, physical activity, and behavioural interventions for sustained outcomes.
With participation from leading international and national faculty, the conference is aligning India’s clinical approach with evolving global best practices while addressing region-specific challenges.
Beyond academic discourse, organisers said the initiative aims to trigger a nationwide public health movement by promoting early screening, improving access to care, and encouraging individuals to take proactive control of their metabolic health.
