NATIONAL FAMILY HEALTH SURVEY-6 (NFHS-6)

NEWS: The latest National Family Health Survey-6 (NFHS-6) has reported a significant increase in obesity, diabetes, and Caesarean (Csection) births across India.

About NFHS-6

  • NFHS-6àConducted during 2023-24 by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW).
  • The International Institute for Population Sciences (IIPS), Mumbai served as the nodal agency.
  • The survey covered approximately 6.79 lakh households across 715 districts of India.
  • NFHS provides crucial data on population, health, nutrition, family welfare, fertility, maternal health, child health, and socioeconomic indicators.
  • The findings help governments formulate evidence-based policies and welfare programmes at national, State, and district levels.

Rise in Obesity in India

  • Obesity among women aged 15–49 years increased from 24% in NFHS-5 to 30.7% in NFHS-6.
  • Obesity among men aged 15–49 years increased from 22.9% to 27.3% during the same period.
  • The surveyà Indicates that obesity and overweight prevalence increased by about 6.7% among women and 4.4% among men within five years.
  • The southern States of Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu have emerged as major hotspots of obesity and overweight adults.

Rise in Diabetes

  • Diabetes among women taking medicines to control insulin resistance increased from 13.5% to 17.8%.
  • Diabetes among men increased from 15.6% to 20.9%.
  • The increase in obesity is closely linked to the rise in diabetes prevalence.
  • Southern States are experiencing both rising obesity and rising diabetes simultaneously.

Rise in Caesarean (C-Section) Births

  • The national share of births through Caesarean section increased from 21.5% in NFHS-5 to 27.2% in NFHS-6.
  • Telangana recorded the highest Csection rate at 62.2%.
  • Andhra Pradesh recorded 52.2% C-section births.
  • Tamil Nadu recorded 46.9% Csection births.
  • These figures are significantly above the global recommendations for medically necessary Caesarean deliveries.

Relationship Between Obesity, Diabetes and C-Section Births

  • Experts describe obesity, diabetes, and Caesarean births as a two-way relationship.
  • Maternal obesity and diabetes increase complications during pregnancy, making C-section delivery more likely.
  • Children born through Caesarean delivery may face a higher long-term risk of obesity and metabolic disorders.
  • Thus, obesity, diabetes, and Csection births can reinforce one another across generations.

Implications for India

  • Rising obesity and diabetesà Indicate a shift from communicable diseases to non-communicable diseases (NCDs).
  • Increasing healthcare costs and disease burden may put pressure on India's health system.
  • The findings highlight the need for better nutrition awareness, physical activity, preventive healthcare, and maternal health interventions.
  • Monitoring C-section rates is necessary to ensure that surgical
Back to Current Affairs