Indians have become more obese, hypertensive, and prone to diabetes according to the F Ministry of Health and Family Welfare report from the latest National Family Health Survey 2019-21 (NFHS-5). The survey gathered information from 6,36,699 households across the country, with field work occurring from June 2019 to April 2021.

The key results were as follows:

• Proportion of women who are overweight or obese increased from 20.6% in the NFHS-4 (2015-16) survey to 24.0% in NFHS-5.
• Proportion of men who are overweight or obese increased from 18.9% in the NFHS-4 (2015-16) survey to 22.9% in NFHS-5.
• Percentage of women and men with blood sugar level more than 140 mg/dl or taking medicine to control blood sugar level were found to be 13.5% and 15.6% respectively.
• Percentage of women and men with elevated systolic blood pressure greater than or equal to 140 mmHg and/or Diastolic blood pressure greater than or equal to 90 mmHg or taking medicine to control blood pressure were found to be 21.3% and 24.0% respectively.

It can be inferred from this nationwide study found that there has been a rise in multiple health risk parameters, during the period that coincides with COVID-19 global pandemic.