Delhi schoolkids face surge in obesity and hypertension, warns Aiims study

Business Standard

01-06-2025

Health issues like obesity, high blood pressure or even high cholesterol are no longer problems that only adults deal with. A new study by the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (Aiims), Delhi — funded by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and published in the medical journal PLOS One — reveals that school-going children in the national capital are facing a serious health crisis.
Private school kids five times more likely to be obese, says Aiims
Titled Cardio-metabolic traits and its socioeconomic differentials among school children, including metabolically obese normal weight phenotypes in India, the study finds that children in private schools are over five times more likely to be obese. Hypertension now affects nearly one in 14 children in both private and public schools. The report also highlights that many slim-looking kids are metabolically unhealthy on the inside.
What does the Aiims study reveal about children's health?
Conducted across five schools in Delhi and involving 3,888 children aged 6–19 years, the Aiims study paints a dual picture of malnutrition in urban India: obesity and underweight.
Obesity prevalence: 22.70 per cent in private schools vs 4.48 per cent in public schools
Central obesity (belly fat): 16.77 per cent (private) vs 1.83 per cent (public)
Hypertension: 7.37 per cent among urban adolescents across school types
Underweight: Nearly five times more prevalent in public schools
Hidden risks: 43 per cent of adolescents with normal weight are metabolically unhealthy
Impaired fasting glucose: 20.74 per cent (private) vs 10.93 per cent (public)
Dyslipidemia (abnormal blood fat levels): Seen in ~33 per cent of students
Metabolic syndrome: 5.76 per cent in private schools vs 1.75 per cent in public schools
Why are obesity and BP rising more in private schools?
According to lead author Dr M Kalaivani, Assistant Professor of Biostatistics at Aiims-Delhi, private school environments often mirror high-income lifestyles with sedentary routines, reduced physical activity, and easy access to calorie-dense foods. Junk food is rampant, screen time is high, and physical education is often sidelined.
Even public school children are not immune. 'They may not afford large, high-priced packs of nutritious food, but they often consume cheap, fried street food,' Dr Kalaivani told Business Standard. The calorie load is high, but nutritional value is low.
What is MONW syndrome and how does it affect normal-weight kids?
The study highlights a surprising trend: children with normal or even underweight body mass index (BMI) often have hidden fat accumulation and abnormal metabolic markers — a condition called Metabolically Obese Normal Weight (MONW), or Metabolically Obese Underweight (MOUW).
What are the health risks of obesity and metabolic syndrome in kids?
These are not just temporary issues. As children grow, these conditions increase long-term risk of:
Type 2 diabetes
Heart disease and stroke
Lifelong obesity
Mental health problems
Dr Nikhil Tandon, co-investigator and Head of Endocrinology & Metabolism at Aiims, said, 'Early-life parameters are predictive of adult disease. Overnutrition is just as dangerous as undernutrition.'
What role do schools play in this health crisis?
Schools are both part of the problem and the solution:
Private schools: Often offer canteens with unhealthy food choices and minimal physical activity
Public schools: Struggle with carbohydrate-heavy mid-day meals and rising screen exposure
Aiims researchers urge schools to overhaul food policies, prioritise physical activity, and embed health education into daily learning.
How can parents help reverse the trend?
Parents play a crucial role too. Overfeeding, using screen time as babysitting, and poor nutritional awareness are key contributors. Experts call for targeted awareness campaigns to engage and educate families.
What needs to change to protect children's health?
To reverse the trend, experts recommend:
Enhancing mid-day meals with more protein and fibre
Ensuring mandatory physical activity in all schools
Reducing screen time and encouraging healthy snacks
Conducting routine screenings for early metabolic markers
Launching parent education programs on balanced diets