The Economic Survey 2026 tabled in Parliament on January 29, 2026 has put spotlight on the new-age health concerns the country’s youth is grappling with. The alarming rise in obesity and growing digital addiction are some of the most serious health challenges country’s children and young people are facing today. A host of factors including wrong diet, sedentary lifestyles and screen additions, could be fuelling these health concerns.
The Survey notes that obesity is rising at an alarming pace across age groups, affecting urban and rural populations alike. Unhealthy diets, reduced physical activity, increased consumption of ultra-processed foods and new-age lifestyle changes are driving this trend, leading to increased risk of diabetes, heart disease and hypertension.
The survey quotes findings of the 2019-21 National Family Health Survey according to which 24 per cent of Indian women and 23 per cent of Indian men are in the overweight or obese category. Among women aged 15-49 years, 6.4 per cent are obese, and among men, 4.0 per cent are obese. What’s especially concerning is the prevalence of excess weight among children under five which has risen from 2.1 per cent in 2015-16 to 3.4 per cent in 2019-21.
Ultra-processed foods in Indian diets are being more preferred by youth compared to traditional and home-cooked meals which are high in nutrition and balanced.
Surprising factors fuelling India’s obesity crisis
Dr BD Pathak, Senior Director, GI, Minimal Access and Bariatric Surgery, Fortis Escorts Hospital Faridabad told Financial Express.com how obesity crisis is fuelled by multiple factors ranging from wrong diet to inactive lifestyle.
“The obesity crisis among young people is being driven by a dangerous combination of ultra-processed foods and sedentary lifestyles, rather than one single factor. Ultra-processed foods—high in sugar, unhealthy fats, salt, and artificial additives—are calorie-dense but nutritionally poor. They disrupt appetite regulation, encourage overeating, and are aggressively marketed to children and adolescents. At the same time, reduced physical activity due to increased screen time, academic pressure, lack of safe play spaces, and urban living has sharply lowered daily energy expenditure. Together, these factors create a chronic energy imbalance that fuels early weight gain and metabolic dysfunction,” says the expert.
Early weight gain can trigger a series of chronic conditions in children that are otherwise more common among adults, warn experts. It can also lead to early hormonal disorders.
“Modern lifestyle patterns are pushing several chronic conditions to appear 10–20 years earlier than previously seen. These include Type 2 diabetes in teenagers and young adults, hypertension and early heart disease, fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in children, hormonal disorders including PCOS in adolescent girls, joint problems and poor bone health,” says Dr Pathak.
Dr Pathak says if obesity begins at the age of five, it significantly increases the risk of lifelong health complications which can lead to early onset of diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, fatty liver disease, and hormonal imbalances.
“They may also face delayed physical development, reduced immunity, and psychological issues such as bullying, poor self-image, and depression. Over time, early obesity shortens life expectancy and reduces quality of life, placing a heavy burden on families and the healthcare system,” says the expert.
Digital addiction and its toll on young minds
The Economic Survey also draws attention to the growing problem of digital addiction among children and adolescents. Rising screen time, it says, is affecting academic performance, productivity and sleep, and also eroding social connections.
Mental health experts warn that excessive screen exposure is reshaping young brains. “Excessive screen use is leading to reduced attention spans and declining academic interest among children. Digital platforms are designed to provide constant stimulation and instant rewards, which overstimulate the brain’s dopamine system. Over time, this makes slower, effort-based activities like reading, studying, or problem-solving feel boring. Continuous exposure also weakens the brain’s ability to sustain attention, control impulses, and engage in deep thinking, particularly affecting the developing prefrontal cortex in children and adolescents. As a result, children struggle to focus, show reduced patience for learning, and lose interest in studies that require sustained concentration,” Dr Kamna Chhibber, Clinical Psychologist and Director, Mental Health Programme, Fortis Healthcare told Financial Express.com.
Deepening mental health crisis among India’s youth
The Survey notes a high prevalence of social media addiction among in the age group of 15–24. Multiple studies link it to anxiety, depression, low self-esteem and cyberbullying-related stress.
“Screen exposure prior to sleep amounts to night suppression of melatonin as a result of blue light, leading to sleep delay onset. Intriguing media content maintains mental alertness, thereby elevating stress hormones. This eventually affects sleep length and quality, fatigue, concentration, and mood, together with possible complications such as insomnia and metabolic syndrome in adults and youth at large,” Dr Sumit Grover, Clinical Psychologist, New York & London told Financial Express.com.
What’s the solution?
The Economic Survey says early, coordinated intervention, starting from childhood can prevent long-term health and economic consequences.
How to prevent obesity in young children
From eliminating sugary drinks to prioritising home-cooked meals, dietary changes can go a long way in prevention of obesity among young children.
“For children under five, the focus should be on nutrition quality, not calorie restriction. Immediate diet changes include eliminating sugary drinks, packaged snacks, biscuits, and sweetened foods, avoiding salt and sugar in home-cooked meals, prioritising breastfeeding and age-appropriate complementary feeding, including fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains, pulses, eggs, and milk, and ensuring fixed meal timings,” says Dr Pathak.
“Parents need to be innovative and proactive. They should find creative ways to incorporate green leafy vegetables and nutritious foods into their children’s diets while actively discouraging the consumption of processed and junk foods that are easily accessible, says Dr Rahul Parashar, Consultant Endocrinologist Kailash Deepak Hospital.
How to tackle digital addition
Addressing excessive digital reliance among children requires a balanced and structured approach rather than complete restriction, say experts.
“Parents and caregivers should set clear screen-time boundaries, encourage screen-free routines such as shared meals and bedtime rituals, and ensure children engage in physical, social, and creative activities. Schools can promote digital discipline through awareness programs, mandatory sports, and screen-free learning periods. At the policy level, age-appropriate screen-time guidelines, regulation of addictive digital content for children, and public awareness campaigns are essential to create a healthier digital environment,” Mehezebin Dordi, Clinical Psychologist, H.N. Reliance Foundation Hospital told Financial Express.com.
Disclaimer: The information in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. While the author has incorporated expert medical guidance while producing the story and ensured full authentic information is provided to the reader, you should always seek the advice of a qualified healthcare provider regarding a medical condition or treatment. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read here.