India’s Economic Survey 2025–26 warns that rising obesity, mental health stress, and compulsive digital use are emerging as serious risks with long-term social and economic costs.

The Survey notes that lifestyle shifts driven by urbanisation, changing diets, and near-universal smartphone access are affecting Indians across age groups, cutting into productivity and pushing up future healthcare spending. “Emerging challenges, such as obesity, the rising burden of non-communicable diseases, and the psychological effects of digital exposure, require a stronger focus on preventive care and behavioural change strategies,” the Survey says.

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Obesity spreads across age groups

Obesity is no longer limited to urban or affluent households. Citing the National Family Health Survey (2019–21), the Survey says 24% of Indian women and 23% of men are overweight or obese. Among adults aged 15–49, obesity affects 6.4% of women and 4% of men. More concerning is the trend among children. The proportion of children under five who are overweight rose from 2.1% in 2015-16 to 3.4% in 2019-21.

In absolute terms, the numbers are stark. The Survey estimates that more than 3.3 crore children in India were obese in 2020, a figure projected to climb to 8.3 crore by 2035 if current trends continue.

The report links this rise closely to dietary shifts. India has become one of the world’s fastest-growing markets for ultra-processed foods (UPFs). Sales grew more than 150% between 2009 and 2023, while retail sales surged from $0.9 billion in 2006 to nearly $38 billion in 2019. “It is during the same period that obesity has nearly doubled in both men and women,” the Survey notes, warning that the growing dependence on UPFs carries a “substantial economic cost through higher healthcare spending, lost productivity, and long-term fiscal strain”.

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While the government has rolled out initiatives such as POSHAN 2.0, Fit India, Eat Right India, and nationwide awareness campaigns, the Survey cautions that diet improvements cannot rely only on individual choices. “Improving diets cannot depend solely on consumer behaviour change; it will require coordinated policies across food systems,” it says.

Digital addiction and mental health

Alongside physical health, the Survey raises red flags over mental well-being in an increasingly digital society. Internet connections have risen nearly four-fold in a decade, reaching 96.96 crore in 2024, while 85.5% of households now own at least one smartphone.

For young Indians, this has created what the Survey describes as an “intensely digital environment”. While access supports education and jobs, compulsive use is taking a toll. The report links excessive screen time to “lost study hours and reduced productivity”, along with anxiety, stress, depression and sleep disturbances.

“Compulsive scrolling and social comparison are particularly linked to anxiety and depressive symptoms,” the Survey says, adding that gaming disorders and real-money gaming can lead to sleep disruption, aggression, financial stress and even suicidal ideation among vulnerable users.

The government has expanded interventions such as Tele-MANAS, a 24/7 mental health helpline that has received over 32 lakh calls since its launch, and introduced the Online Gaming (Regulation) Act, 2025, to curb wagering-based games.

Still, the Survey admits that India lacks comprehensive national data on digital addiction, limiting targeted policy responses. The upcoming National Mental Health Survey is expected to fill this gap.