Nearly One in Five Young People in South Asia Affected by Excess Weight

A new comprehensive review reveals that nearly one in five young people across South Asia experience excess weight, highlighting a growing public health challenge in a region long defined by undernutrition. The study examined adolescents aged 10 to 19 years and mapped the complex mix of physical, social, and economic factors driving this epidemiological shift. Researchers found that while physical inactivity and unhealthy eating habits consistently show strong links to excess weight, other factors vary wildly from one country to another.

What Does the New Regional Synthesis Reveal About Prevalence?

The narrative review, published in Endocrinology, diabetes & metabolism, analyzed data from multiple countries across South Asia, including India, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. The authors noted that prevalence estimates differed substantially depending on the diagnostic criteria used, such as the World Health Organization growth references or local thresholds. For instance, combined overweight and obesity ranged from roughly 6 percent in some urban Nepalese municipalities to nearly 30 percent in smaller rural school samples. Meanwhile, nationally representative data from Bangladesh indicated an overall combined excess weight prevalence of about 10.6 percent among older adolescents.

The team emphasized that direct comparisons remain difficult due to widespread methodological differences. Studies frequently relied on different sampling frames, distinct age categories, and varied definitions of adiposity. Furthermore, researchers evaluated central obesity using waist measurements in some subsets, revealing different risk profiles than standard body mass index calculations.

Which Behaviors and Lifestyle Factors Drive the Trend?

When looking at the underlying influences, physical inactivity emerged as a recurring factor linked to excess weight. Several studies pointed to a lack of structured physical education, minimal sports participation, and high levels of sedentary recreation, such as prolonged screen time. Dietary habits also played a central role, with frequent consumption of energy-dense foods, fast food, and fried snacks appearing frequently across the literature.

How Do Socioeconomic Status and Urban Living Shape Adolescent Health?

Unlike high-income nations where excess weight often disproportionately affects disadvantaged communities, several South Asian studies observed a different gradient. Adolescents from wealthier households frequently showed higher odds of overweight and obesity, reflecting an intermediate stage of nutrition transition where disposable income increases access to commercially processed foods and motorized transport. Similarly, urban residence consistently correlated with higher prevalence rates, driven by built environments that limit safe outdoor play while expanding access to convenience foods.

What Are the Limitations of Current Research?

The authors stressed that the vast majority of primary studies were cross-sectional, meaning they can only point to associations rather than prove direct cause and effect. Important domains such as sleep duration, mental health, academic pressure, and household food insecurity remained largely unexamined or underreported across the region. Additionally, countries such as Afghanistan, Bhutan, the Maldives, and Pakistan lacked sufficient primary data, creating notable geographic gaps that future researchers must address to build truly comprehensive regional strategies.

The research was published in Endocrinology, diabetes & metabolism on November 1, 2026.