Source: Wikipedia
March 4, 2025 — Today is World Obesity Day 2025, an international annual event launched by the World Obesity Federation to promote awareness of the increasing crisis of obesity and call for effective, systemic action. The theme for this year, “Changing Systems, Healthier Lives,” reflects the call of the hour to go beyond isolated efforts and address the wide environmental, social, and medical factors driving this epidemic.
While obesity continues its global rise, the day comes as a sharp reminder of the health hazards accompanying this chronic illness and the necessity of collective efforts to turn around the trend.
The facts are chilling. Following data from the World Health Organization (WHO), overall obesity rates almost quadrupled since 1975, whereas rates among children and adolescents doubled fivefold. Now, there are over 2.5 billion people—an estimated one-third of the planet’s population—are overweight or obese, a proportion that crosses the line into developed and developing worlds.
In India alone, a recent Lancet study found 70% of the urban population overweight, putting the nation third in the world for obesity rates, only behind the United States and China. A Delhi-based study, meanwhile, indicated obesity among women increased from 33.5% in 2015-16 to 41.3% in 2019-21, with men tracking similarly, increasing from 24.6% to 38%.
Obesity is much more than an aesthetic issue—it’s a serious risk factor for chronic disease such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, certain cancers, and even mental illness. It is cautioned by experts that ostensibly “healthy” practices, including meal skipping or excessive use of artificial sweeteners, can contribute unintentionally to weight gain, and societal elements such as food insecurity and inactive lifestyles exacerbate the issue.
In the Middle East, experts forecast the region to be the world’s child obesity capital by 2050, with more than half of its children and youth expected to be overweight.
This year’s World Obesity Day focuses on system change rather than blaming individuals. “Obesity isn’t just about willpower—it’s about the systems we live in,” says Dr. Sachin Ambekar, Medical Director at Minimal Access Smart Surgery Hospital (MASSH). From city planning that discourages exercise to the convenient availability of processed foods, we must rethink how our environments influence health outcomes.”
The topic is consistent with demands from health activists for such policies as taxing sweetened beverages, enhancing access to healthy foods, and incorporating obesity prevention into public health efforts.
All over the world, activities are being organized to commemorate the day. In Sri Lanka’s Colombo, a March 2 parade attracted people to bring into focus the problem, and in India, specialists are calling for lifestyle changes as city obesity peaks. Nutritionists such as Anjali Mukerjee point to simple measures—10,000 steps a day, say, can burn 500 calories—but emphasize that weight loss is multidimensional and includes hormones, inflammation, and the gut.
As World Obesity Day 2025 takes place, the message is unmistakable: addressing this crisis demands a collective effort—governments, communities, and individuals united in creating a healthier future. The clock is ticking, and the time for action is now.