Rising obesity among Indian women underscores need for preconception interventions
Recent data shows a significant rise in obesity among Indian women, prompting health experts to advocate for pre-conception interventions. Institutions are now promoting traditional Ayurvedic regimens alongside modern medical assessments to improve reproductive health outcomes.
Why it matters
Addressing lifestyle-related health risks before pregnancy is increasingly viewed as a vital strategy for improving maternal and infant health outcomes.
Nearly one in three Indian women aged 15-49 years is now overweight or obese, up from one in four women five years ago, according to data released by the Central government. The latest National Family Health Survey (NFHS-6) found that 30.7% of women aged 15-49 years were overweight or obese in 2023-24, compared with 24% in NFHS-5 (2019-21). Among men in the same age group, the proportion rose from 22.9% to 27.3%.
Speaking of the rising incidence of lifestyle-related disorders on fertility and pregnancy, which is prompting greater attention to health before conception, doctors and health practitioners are now increasingly focusing on the period before pregnancy, arguing that identifying and addressing health risks in both prospective parents could improve reproductive and pregnancy outcomes.
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